September 15, 2025
Students and staff from Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools students will be running relay-style from Ladysmith to Lantzville over three days to support cancer research in honour of the 45th anniversary of Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope.
Each school in the district will have a team of five to eight runners participating in the relay marathon. Over three days, the run will cover more than 90 km. This will be the second time students and staff from the school district have coordinated a marathon relay to honour Canadian hero, Terry Fox. In 2005, the school district organized a similar event with relay runners from Ladysmith to Lantzville schools, with individual schools raising funds for the Terry Fox Foundation.
The run will kick off at Ladysmith Secondary School on Tuesday September 23, 2025. The runners will head from Ladysmith to North Oyster and Cedar, to Gabriola, central Nanaimo, north Nanaimo schools and then Lantzville, before heading back to Beban Park where the event will conclude with a wrap up celebration.
“Celebrating the legacy of a true Canadian hero, Terry Fox, while fostering community spirit and raising awareness for cancer research is a privilege and a joy,” said Jacquie Poulin, assistant superintendent with Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools. Poulin organized the 2005 run and is again organizing this year’s run. “The support and enthusiasm from our schools and community partners has been truly overwhelming. We’re looking forward to an inspiring and impactful three days.”
Each school will be raising funds for the Terry Fox Foundation. Community members who wish to donate can contribute through the NLPS fundraising page on the Terry Fox Foundation website.