The Terry Fox Virtual Run
One Day. Your Way.
Sunday, September 20th

40 Years after Terry Fox was Forced to Stop his Marathon of Hope, The Terry Fox Run Goes on Virtually

“It’s got to keep going without me.” – Terry Fox

The Terry Fox Foundation honours Terry Fox and his Marathon of Hope, which ended abruptly 40 years ago. While Terry was forced to stop, his dream of a world without cancer continues.

“Terry said that it’s got to keep going without me, but he could never have imagined that forty years later $800 million would be raised for cancer research. Our family is so thankful for how Canadians have embraced Terry and his mission and made such an incredible impact on cancer research with their fundraising.” – Fred Fox

It’s “Your Way” in 2020
This year, the Run’s theme is “One Day. Your Way.” Due to public health concerns, we will participate in spirit, not in person this year.

On Sunday September 20th, we ask that you continue to support cancer research by participating in and fundraising for your Virtual Run. We leave it up to you to choose how to celebrate your Terry Fox effort – walk, run, dance, hike – on a favourite route and with your favourite people. Most importantly, we need you to honour the day by fundraising for cancer research.

“Cancer isn’t waiting for the pandemic to end and neither can we. Even with the additional challenges Canadians are facing, we need to remain committed to supporting cancer research this September.” says Ara Sahakian, Interim Executive Director The Terry Fox Foundation”

While we can’t run or walk together side-by-side and in-person this year, we know that Canadians are still determined to do what Terry asked of us: fundraise and donate to cancer research. The Foundation’s online platform at terryfox.org offers an easy and secure way to fundraise.

“Cancer may have taken Terry’s life, but it could never take away his try. Especially today, there is only one way forward: we all have to try like Terry” – adds Fred Fox

Register to this year’s Run and donate to The Terry Fox Foundation by visiting https://terryfox.org

About Terry Fox
Terry Fox was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and raised in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, a community near Vancouver on Canada’s west coast. An active teenager involved in many sports, Terry was only 18 years old when he was diagnosed with osteogenic sarcoma (bone cancer) and forced to have his right leg amputated 15 centimetres (six inches) above the knee in 1977.

While in hospital, Terry was so overcome by the suffering of other cancer patients, many of them young children, that he decided to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research. He would call his journey the Marathon of Hope. After 18 months and running over 5,000 kilometres (3,107 miles) to prepare, Terry started his run in St. John’s, Newfoundland on April 12, 1980 with little fanfare.

Although it was difficult to garner attention in the beginning, enthusiasm soon grew, and the money collected along his route began to mount. He ran close to 42 kilometres (26 miles) a day through Canada’s Atlantic provinces, Quebec and Ontario. However, on September 1st, after 143 days and 5,373 kilometres (3,339 miles), Terry was forced to stop running outside of Thunder Bay, Ontario because cancer had appeared in his lungs. An entire nation was stunned and saddened. Terry passed away on June 28, 1981 at the age 22.

The heroic Canadian was gone, but his legacy was just beginning. To date, over $800 million has been raised worldwide for cancer research in Terry’s name through the annual Terry Fox Run, held across Canada and around the world.

#TerryFoxRun

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