Youngblood, Walsh honorees at upcoming Terry Fox Run
By Gladys Ganiel, Of the NEWS Staff
Peggy Youngblood isn't a competitive runner. Neither, for that matter, is
Shawn Walsh. But both will be honored at this year's edition of the Terry
Fox Run.
Brewer resident Youngblood and Walsh, the University of Maine hockey coach,
are battling cancer. The Terry Fox Run, now in its 18th year in Bangor, is
staged annually to raise money for cancer research.
"They're our Terry Foxes,'' race chairman Ed Rice of Jackman said Thursday
at a race press conference at the Eastern Maine Healthcare Mall in Bangor.
The 5-kilometer race is scheduled for Sept. 10 at 11:30 a.m. The race start
and registration will be at the Best Western White House Inn off Exit 44 on
Interstate 95 behind Dysart's.
Youngblood is the recipient of the 2000 Terry Fox award in honor of the
Canadian cancer victim who in 1980 attempted a 5,300 mile run across his
country. Fox, running on one good leg and an artificial limb, completed
3,339 miles before dying on June 28, 1981.
"I'm probably the least likely person to be a runner,'' said the 58-year-old
Youngblood, who was diagnosed with lymphoma in March 1999 and also has
arthritis. "But this is one of the most wonderful rewards a person could
ever get.''
Walsh was diagnosed with kidney cancer in June. He is currently in
California undergoing treatments.
For the past five years, members of Walsh's hockey team have participated in
the Terry Fox Run. The hockey team and athletes on other Maine teams are
expected to turn out for this year's edition of the race.
Hockey co-captain Doug Janik attended the press conference on behalf of the
Maine athletes.
"Some of us [have run in previous years] for family members, but now with
coach Walsh it hits home a lot deeper,'' Janik said.
Youngblood will not participate in the race but will attend as a spectator
and an honored guest. Walsh has told Rice he will run in the race, if
possible.
Proceeds from the race will benefit CancerCare of Maine to encourage local
women to participate in a national breast cancer prevention trial called
STAR (Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene). The Eastern Maine Medical Center
is the only primary site in Maine for this nation-wide study supported by
the National Cancer Institute.
"Hopefully this will be a landmark study,'' said Dr. Philip Brooks, the
president of the CancerCare medical staff. "Every person who runs in the
Terry Fox Run will be making their contribution to the cause.''
Rice related the testimonies of two women at a previous annual gathering of
Breast Cancer Trial participants.
"They stood up ... and thanked us and said that without the Terry Fox Run
they couldn't have afforded to participate [in the cancer prevention
program]. This [race] is helping,'' he said.
Youngblood was no stranger to cancer or to Fox even before she was
diagnosed. When she was 10 years old, her 22-year-old sister died of cancer.
Youngblood also recalled watching television reports of Fox's run with her
two children.
"If you survive cancer, every day is a gift. ... But you never say the word
^survivor.' You don't take anything for granted,'' she said.
Youngblood has invested years as a community volunteer at the Eastern Maine
Medical Center Auxiliary, Altrusa International, St. Joseph's Hospital, the
Husson College Epsilon Delta Sorority Alumni and the Bangor-Brewer YWCA.
Applications for the race are available at the Saucony Outlet store in
Bangor and the Best Western White House Inn. There will also be race day
registration from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the start/finish line at the
Best Western. The race is part of the Sub 5 Track Club road racing series.
For more information about STAR or to receive a free risk assessment form,
call CancerCare of Maine at 973-4249, talk to your primary doctor or visit
http://www.nsabp.pitt.edu or http://cancertrials.nci.nih.gov.
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