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Photography portal LensaMalaysia.com is to use the power of pictures for a noble cause, again.

Last week, LensaMalaysia was involved in the photoshoot for COBRA 10s in an effort to promote rugby in Malaysia.

This Sunday, Moderators and members from LensaMalaysia will turn up in full gears to shoot and sell photos of a charity sports event to help raise funds for cancer research at The Cancer Research Initiatives Foundation (CARIF).

The event, Terry Fox Run Kuala Lumpur, will be held at the KL Lake Gardens this Sunday. The organiser is San Francisco Coffee.

SOURCE: Terry Fox Run Kuala Lumpur

The Run is named after Terry Fox, the young man who inspired these events being held concurrently around the world on September 17.

Terry Fox was 18 years old when he was diagnosed with bone cancer. His right leg was amputated above the knee. Whilst in hospital, Terry was moved by the suffering of cancer patients, particularly children. So much so that he resolved to run across Canada (a distance of 8,500 kilometers) to raise money for cancer research. He called his journey the “Marathon of Hope”.

Terry Fox running in Marathon of Hope (left); The Terry Fox memorial statue, Ottawa

Terry Fox, despite losing one leg to cancer, ran a marathon (42 kilometers) a day for 143 consecutive days - a total distance of 5,373 kilometers. At that stage, Terry was forced to abandon his run as the cancer spread to his lungs. Terry Fox died at the tender age of 22. Before he died, he knew that a fund-raising event, associated with the Terry Fox Foundation, would be held each year, with the same objectives as the Marathon of Hope - to help find a cure for cancer.

Since 1981, the Terry Fox Run has raised more than RM1.3 billion in aid of cancer research around the world. You would be interested to note the Terry Fox Foundation requires that the funds raised be used for cancer research in the country where the Run is held. The Terry Fox Run in Malaysia has raised more than RM500,000 since 2001.

It's a family event

The Terry Fox Run Kuala Lumpur 2006 will begin and end at the Lake Gardens, Kuala Lumpur. The Starting Time of the run is 9am, but you are advised to arrive at the starting point before 8.30am. The route, measuring 6.5km (with a shortcut for kids cutting it down to 3.2km) is a scenic and shaded one. Family coming in cars are advised to look out for the two designated drop-off points. (View route map here.)

Take note, too, that the Terry Fox Run is an inclusive family event. No registration is required and no fees are payable. Participants may run, jog, walk, cycle, roller-blade or otherwise propel themselves along the route.

However, the organisers encourage participants to purchase a T-shirt for the run as well as to raise awareness for the cancer research. The T-shirt, each priced RM25, is available at all San Francisco Coffee outlets.

A light breakfast will be served, together with live performances and activities.

LensaMalaysia Moderator Ahmad Faizal will be spearheading this effort in the photoshoot. The pictures will be given to the organiser and all proceeds from the sale of the pictures will be channelled to the Terry Fox Run cancer research fund.

Let us give a helping hand and do some shooting and promote the events. Most importantly, buy the T-shirt and bring your family for this charity run.

So far, 12 LensaMalaysia members have pledged to charity-shoot as official photographers for the event. If you have a digital camera, please come join us and shoot for fun though you are not designated as OP (official photographers).

Additional details are available on www.terryfoxrunkl.org and LensaMalaysia Web Forum.