Youngblood, Walsh honorees at upcoming Terry Fox Run

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 out 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.