This year marks the 31st anniversary of the Terry Fox Run, an annual event held to commemorate his Marathon of Hope.
Terry was only 18 years old when he was diagnosed with bone cancer and his right leg was amputated. Overcome with the suffering of other cancer patients he witnessed, he determined to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research.
In 1980, he started the run with little fanfare, but 5,373 kilometres later, when he was forced to stop because cancer had appeared in his lungs, Canada paid attention to a national hero.
Before he died, Terry knew his Marathon of Hope would be commemorated. Betty Fox, Terry’s mother who died in June, carried on his legacy. To date, more than $550 million has been raised worldwide in Terry’s name for cancer research.
The Terry Fox Run in Powell River starts at 10 am on Sunday, September 18 at the Powell River Recreation Complex.
Though he has been gone for 30 years, Terry continues to inspire all those who hear his story. The growing number of people who are lost to cancer increases the urgency of Terry’s dream—to find a cure for cancer.
