As the world celebrates Usain Bolt's records, it was time to remember another athlete - Terry Fox from Canada who died of cancer. In his memory, the Terry Fox Run is held across the world every year. Now, for the first time ever, Chennai played host to this run. And it's solely the initiative of a young cancer patient undergoing treatment in the city.
Akash Dube had been participating in the run in Dubai, every year, to raise awareness about cancer. Just a few months ago, he himself was diagnosed with the disease. But he's fighting back. And how? By organising the run.
"I want to spread awareness about early detection of cancer," says Akash.
Akash's father Ravi Dube says, "His friends are all running in Dubai. So he too wanted to keep the initiative going in his own way."
Till now, the run has been organised only in Mumbai and Delhi. But this young boy's grit has moved the Terry Fox Foundation which allowed him to organise the event in Chennai.
"We've all seen marathons which are held for records, but this is for a great cause," says Praveen, a participant.
The money collected will be sent to the Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai for cancer research. But more than the funds, it's the infectious spirit of this young lad that sends out hope to others to battle the disease.
