For 8-year-old Joey Denuke, participating in his school's Terry Fox Run meant a little bit more this year.
Joey was diagnosed with pediatric cancer when he was just 6 weeks old. It resulted in the loss of his left leg. So when choosing a grand marshall for their Terry Fox Run, Zone Township Central School in Bothwell felt Joey was an obvious choice.
"He feels like my cousin," says Joey on his feelings about the late Fox. "Living with a prosthetic leg is hard for a bit, but then it gets easier."
Joey was joined by his school, teachers, principal Eryn Smit, and family members as he led the first lap of the school's Terry Fox Run.
With students running behind him chanting "Let's go Joey let's go," his mother Tina Denuke couldn't be prouder.
"When you watch Terry run and then Joey run you go 'look at this!' Terry's strength as well, Joey's a tough little guy," she says.
The school raised around $400 for cancer research with their "Toonies For Terry" campaign.
Bothwell student Joey DeNuke leads his schoolmates on their Terry Fox Run (Photo by Jake Kislinsky)
Bothwell student Joey DeNuke leads his schoolmates on their Terry Fox Run (Photo by Jake Kislinsky)
Students at Zone Township Central School students prepare to hold their Terry Fox Run (Photo by Jake Kislinsky)
Bothwell student Joey DeNuke leads his schoolmates on their Terry Fox Run (Photo by Jake Kislinsky)
Bothwell student Joey DeNuke leads his schoolmates on their Terry Fox Run (Photo by Jake Kislinsky)
Bothwell student Joey DeNuke leads his schoolmates on their Terry Fox Run (Photo by Jake Kislinsky)
Bothwell student Joey DeNuke leads his schoolmates on their Terry Fox Run (Photo by Jake Kislinsky)
Bothwell student Joey DeNuke leads his schoolmates on their Terry Fox Run (Photo by Jake Kislinsky)