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On September 19th, hundreds of Islanders will don their sneakers, to participate in the Terry Fox 30th Anniversary Run on the Confederation Bridge. Seventy Holland ¼â½ÐÊÓƵ employees, their families, and friends have reunited as the Holland ¼â½ÐÊÓƵ Trekkers to take part in the event.

The Holland ¼â½ÐÊÓƵ Trekkers participated in the 25th anniversary run in 2005, raising almost $1,000. This year's event, organized by Holland ¼â½ÐÊÓƵ Wellness Committee members Leslie Holt, Jean Lykow and Joanne MacDonald, is expected to raise $1,200 for the Terry Fox Foundation. Each participant on the Holland ¼â½ÐÊÓƵ team pays a $15 registration fee, which is donated to the Terry Fox Foundation, and in return they receive a commemorative T-shirt.

For Doug Kelly, a math and physics instructor at the college, it's a family affair. Kelly, his wife Laurie and their four children, Annika, 12; Tatiana, 10; Maura, 9; and Liam, 7; will be making the 12.9 km walk together. For Doug and Laurie, this year's walk has special significance.

"In 1997, I proposed to my wife on the ferry as we were going to the other side to take part in the first bridge walk," Doug said. "Here we are 13 years and four kids later, and we thought it was a great opportunity to repeat the event, this time with the kids. Of course, we are very pleased that it's in support of a terrific cause."

The Holland ¼â½ÐÊÓƵ Trekkers walk is one of many activities organized by the college's Wellness Committee, which strives to keep employees motivated and encouraged through numerous fun, employer-sponsored activities throughout the year. These include a health fair, a golf event, healthy weight reduction contests, walking challenges, and even paintball.

Ryan Johnston, Director of Human Resources at Holland ¼â½ÐÊÓƵ, sees participation in the Terry Fox Run as a natural fit for the college.

"The college strives to offer an employment environment whereby employees are welcomed and encouraged to participate in volunteer events like the 2010 bridge run. With wellness also being a very important aspect of our benefit offering and culture, the Terry Fox Run is a perfect partnering of these two important college objectives," he explained.

Laurel Lea, Coordinator of Marketing and Community Affairs for Strait Crossing Bridge Ltd., anticipates the record-setting 14,000 participant event of 2005 will be outstripped by this year's.

"We are hoping to attract 20,000 participants to this year's run.... We have registered participants from every province in Canada as well as the US, Ireland and Japan!" she noted.

Pre-registration is required in order to participate in the run. The registration deadline is 11:59 p.m. on Friday, September 17.

"Strait Crossing Bridge Ltd. has pledged $1 to the Terry Fox Foundation for every participant who registers and participates on the 19th. If we reach our target goal of 20,000 participants this will result in $20,000 being directed to the Terry Fox Foundation that they wouldn't otherwise be receiving," Lea added.

In this picture: (L-R) Holland ¼â½ÐÊÓƵ Trekkers Maura Kelly, Annika Kelly, Doug Kelly, Tatiana Kelly, and Laurie Kelly prepare to participate in the Terry Fox 30th Anniversary Run on the Confederation Bridge September 19th. Liam, the youngest Kelly, (front) displays the back of the Holland ¼â½ÐÊÓƵ Trekkers commemorative T-shirt.