After a cold week, Sunday (September 17) was a beautiful day to raise money for cancer research and run around the lake as the Terry Fox Run took over East Lake Park.

Mayor Peter Brown and Kyla Van Leeuwun address participants at the Terry Fox Run.Community Organizer Kyla Van Leeuwun explained why she thinks the annual fundraiser in honour of a Canadian hero is so important.

"Cancer affects so many different people, and this is a good way to give back. The percentage of the money that goes to research is amazing with the Terry Fox Run, so it's just a good way for everybody to get together and support a good cause."

Skies were clear and the weather was warm on Sunday as participants warmed up and then walked and ran laps around East Lake.

"I'm glad. [On Saturday] it was really windy, so I was hoping it would be nice today. It's a beautiful day for everybody to come out and take a walk."

Van Leeuwun was pleased with yesterday's turnout.

"I think this is the most I've ever seen here, so hopefully we raise a lot of money."

Van Leeuwun said they had forty participants register online prior to the event, and she estimated that number more than doubled to between eighty and a hundred with the number of people that showed up yesterday to East Lake Park.

When we spoke to Van Leeuwun moments before the run kicked off, she estimated they had raised between six and seven thousand dollars for cancer research, but said they wouldn't know the official total until at least Wednesday (September 20).