Peterborough Fiddler “Irish Millie” Raises Over $2,300 For Terry Fox Foundation

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Millie Shadgett, better known by stage name “Irish Millie” uses her fiddling talents to raise $2,343 for the Terry Fox Foundation through ‘Fiddling for Fox’ campaign.

Irish Millie has been nominated for a Canadian Folk Music Award for the second year in a row along with her band, The Receivers. Photo courtesy of Irish Millie.

The 15-year-old Lakefield College School (LCS) student began performing for her first live audience about six years ago, at the Peterborough Farmers Market.

It was around this time that she learned about Terry Fox. Having been touched by cancer in her own life, Millie says his story inspired her.

“I thought ‘I don’t have much money to give’ but if I use my fiddling gift to allow people to donate to this amazing cause, then I can raise money through that,” said Millie.

After the first successful Fiddling For Fox event, she decided she wanted to do an annual fundraiser for the Terry Fox Foundation.

This year, she ran two fundraising events at the Peterborough Farmers Market and LCS, raising a total of $2,343 for the Terry Fox Foundation.

At the Farmers Market, Millie included a number of local names as special guests in her performance including Washboard Hank and Ty Wilson.

“It was almost like a bunch of little shows in one big day,” recalled Millie.

Wanting to do something different through Fiddling For Fox this year, she wrote “If I Don’t Make It,” a song to honour Terry and his legacy.

“I was really inspired by Terry and his courage and his bravery, and so I wanted to write a song to convey that,” she said. “It was the way that I could show my inspiration from him, through music.”

The original song features a drum beat in the background that represents Terry’s feet as he ran.

“It was a lot of work, and it took a lot of time and effort, but it really was great to have that showcased for Terry Fox,” Millie continued.

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Keith Wightman Students Throw Celebration For Teacher With Breast Cancer During Terry Fox Walk

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This year’s Terry Fox walk for Keith Wightman Public School brought special meaning to these kindergarten through grade six students.

Photo courtesy of Keith Wightman Public School.

Kindergarten teacher Mrs. Lytle was diagnosed with breast cancer last school year and got to see her students at the walk on Thursday for the first time since her diagnosis.

The school has done a number of activities to raise awareness in Lytle’s honour including designing Terry-inspired running shoes and wearing pink.

The beloved teacher was greeted with high-fives and written notes from students upon her arrival.

“We teach because we love kids, and being away from them has been hard,” said Lytle. “I’m super excited to see what’s going on, and to be here (at the school) again.”

Lytle, who lives in Hastings with her husband, finished out the school year this past June, knowing the diagnosis was coming.

She is a month into her treatment and will be in chemotherapy for the next four months. She says she will likely not return this school year.

“I think in terms of the kids and the school community, it makes it real a little bit for them. We’re a K (kindergarten) to (grade) six school, and a lot of what teachers talk about they don’t fully grasp,” she said. “It’s important for people to share their stories, there’s so much mystery and fear that comes from the cancer diagnosis. When people are open about it, it’s easier and it makes it a little less intimidating for everyone.”

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Photos: The 42nd Annual Terry Fox Run Raised Over $25,000 For Cancer Research

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The 42nd Annual Terry Fox Run returned with an in-person event after two years of going virtual and raised over $25,000 for cancer research at Nicholls Oval Park on Sunday.

Despite heavy rain, runners, walkers and cyclists could venture the one-kilometre, 10-kilometre or custom route with no limit on time or distance. This year’s theme was ‘I'm no quitter.’ Anyone dressed in red during the event were cancer survivors.

Pledges were collected in person and online. The online donation page had a goal of $20,000.

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Peterborough Museum & Archives' Newest Exhibition Terry Fox: Running To The Heart Of Canada Is On Loan From Canadian Museum of History

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Peterborough Museum & Archives' newest exhibition titled Terry Fox: Running to the Heart of Canada is a must see for people of all ages.

The exhibition is on loan from the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Quebec, with support from the Terry Fox Foundation, and will be on-site in Peterborough for public viewing until Sunday, December 9th.

Photo courtesy Peterborough Museum & Archives

The exhibition provides a unique look at Terry’s epic 143-day, 3,339-mile (5,373-kilometre) journey from St. John’s, Newfoundland, to Thunder Bay, Ontario in 1980. It explores Canadians’ deep and abiding affection for Terry and examines his unique place in our collective memory.

Developed by the Canadian Museum of History in partnership with Terry Fox’s family, the exhibition traces Terry’s journey and shows the impact he had on modern Canadian life—the numerous schools, community centres and features of the landscape named for him, and the Canadian coins, stamps and passports bearing his image.

Photo courtesy Peterborough Museum & Archives

“During the Marathon of Hope and the months that followed, Canadians filled our home in Port Coquitlam, B.C., with scrapbooks, written tributes and gifts reflecting a collective compassion and admiration for Terry's unselfish act,” says Darrell Fox, Terry’s brother. “More than 35 years later, it is time to share the Terry Fox collection and the compelling story that the memorabilia evoke with the world.

Photo courtesy Peterborough Museum & Archives

The Canadian icon’s coast-to-coast journey in 1980 ended near Thunder Bay, when the cancer that had claimed his leg returned, forcing Terry to abandon the project.

He died a national hero in June 1981, at the age of 22, having collected some $24 million. To date, more than $700 million has been raised in his name for cancer research.

Terry Fox – Running to the Heart of Canada is being presented at The Peterborough Museum & Archives (300 Hunter Street East) from September 29th until December 9th.

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