Saturday 21 / December / 2024
Muscat: A Terry Fox run was held at The American International School Muscat on Thursday.
About 900 people including students, their parents and staff members took part in the run which covered four kilometres; however, the runners had a choice of running anywhere between one and 4 kilometres.
This was the 10th year of the run at TAISM, it was first started by Joel Nelson, a former physical education teacher at TAISM, who was inspired by Terry Fox, a Canadian athlete who in 1980, with an amputated leg ran across Canada to raise money and awareness for cancer research.
Vaansh, a grade 12 shaved his head for the run, in solidarity with cancer victims who lost their hair, he and Ramen, also a Grade 12 student said, “This is our 7th year taking part in the run and it is really important especially because it raises money for cancer research in Oman. Also it’s keeping the spirit of Terry Fox alive.”
Laura MacDonald, Health Education teacher at TAISM says, “The lead up to this run is very informative for the students. This is just the final event but for 2 weeks we educate the children, we have assemblies, and show them where their money is going.
“All the money goes to Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH) where the wonderful Dr. Zakiya Al Lamki, head of department at the college of medicine leads a study on childhood leukaemia. She started the only database in the country that keeps track of all the childhood leukaemia cases.
“When this event first started 10 years ago, the survival rate for the most common type of leukaemia, Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) was only 20 to 30 per cent. Because of the database which our school funds, they have been able to use our money to pay for computers, software, training graduate students to input the data and bringing in international experts to make better treatment plans, and now the survival rates for ALL is 80 per cent, which is about the same as the best centres in the world.”
According to Laura, the main message for the students is that Terry inspires normal people, “The inspiration from Terry is that normal individuals just like us can make a difference, and the most important thing in life is to help others. That’s what the quote from Terry Fox says on our T-shirts - ‘The answer is to help others’.”
The school raises money by selling T-shirts, and through other student-lead activities. This year TAISM was able to raise OMR 5,300.
“Al Qabas printing company give us a really good deal - they support us with the Terry Fox run - and the parent volunteers sell the shirts for six rials. All the profits go to cancer research at SQUH.”
The high school student council organized a head shave a day before the event and 18 staff members and many students shaved their heads, going completely bald in order to stand in solidarity with people undergoing cancer treatment, who lose their hair.
“It was really beautiful and one of the most magical moments. Our school community is truly like a family. Students and parents, teachers and staff members all really take care of each other and that’s what makes our community so special. We take care of each other and we also want to take care of others in our community.
“I hope more schools in Muscat will be interested in having their own run because it’s such a great opportunity to help our beautiful, welcoming country of Oman. I feel so lucky to live here and it’s just great way to teach students important life lessons about helping others and doing your best to make a difference,” MacDonald added
