News Item

October 3, 2011

News item – Somenos student’s uncle inspires Terry Fox runners

When Cow Hi grad Jared Huumonen walked onto the field to participate in Somenos elementary school’s Terry Fox run, a cluster of red shirts gathered round him. As the students walked alongside, they chatted and asked him questions about the prosthetic limb extending to the ground from the right leg of his shorts.

It so happens that Jared is uncle to Taylor Downey, a grade 6 Somenos student who’d mentioned in conversation at the school that her uncle had endured a cancer of the leg similar to that suffered by Canadian icon Terry Fox. Principal Jan Bradley invited Jared to talk to the students at an assembly and to participate in the Run.

“It’s great for all the sick kids that you are doing the Run to remember Terry Fox and what he did for cancer research,” said the 33-year-old Mill Bay resident and self-employed gardener.

In his grade 11 year Jared was diagnosed with cancer in his leg. Four months of chemotherapy was followed by surgery to replace bone with steel. After losing much of his grade 11 year, Jared returned to school and graduated. About five years ago, it was obvious that his leg couldn’t be saved and was amputated high up in the thigh. He now wears a basic $18,000 prosthetic that’s covered by Medicare. An athlete in school, he talks of returning to the activities he loved.

Following Jared’s brief talk, students watched the inspiring four-minute video “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)”.

And across the school district, thousands of students ran to remember Terry Fox, joining millions in dozens of countries around the world.