It Begins . . .
On April 12th 1980, Terry Fox dips his feet in the cold Atlantic Water in the shores of St. John’s, Newfoundland.
Terry Fox
Terrance Stanley Fox was born July 28, 1958. 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, Terry was only 18 years old when he was diagnosed with osteogenic sarcoma (bone cancer) and forced to have his right leg amputated 15 centimeters (six inches) above the knee in 1977.
Motivation:
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.
Legacy:
In the three decades that have passed Canada too carries the imprint of the graceful young man with the awkward amputee’s gait. He became a part of us, part of our bedrock. He is in our geography, in awards that honor outstanding young Canadians, as a role model for athletes and in cancer research funded as it had never been before.
Terry Fox Interview Primary Source:
Marathon of Hope
On April 12, 1980, Terry Fox dipped his artificial foot in the Atlantic Ocean off St. John's and began his Marathon of Hope. He ran each day no matter the weather — freezing rain, high winds, even snow. He passed through Sudbury, Ont., in August, the halfway point on his journey west. But on Sept. 1, chest pains and breathing problems forced him to stop running. He was just past Thunder Bay. After 143 days and 5,373 kilometres, he announced he would have to postpone the rest of the run, saying, "I'm gonna do my very best. I'll fight, I promise I won't give up."
Marathon of Hope: By the numbers
Fox was sent to a hospital in B.C., where doctors discovered the source of his chest pains: cancer had spread to his lungs. While the Marathon of Hope came to a sudden halt, donations kept coming. A total of $24.17 million was raised, surpassing Fox's initial goal.
What impact did him and his marathon on Canada?
For us -- and millions of Canadians including school children -- Terry Fox is the face of cancer research. His Marathon of Hope, now a 30-year legacy, continues to inspire people here at home and around the world.
Terry's vision and courage have helped to reshape Canada in many ways. Importantly, it transformed cancer research here, establishing a new attitude and threshold regarding what kind of investment was necessary to support cancer research. Through the National Cancer Institute of Canada (NCIC), Terry Fox Foundation funds were allocated to researchers and teams for nearly three decades.More than half a billion dollars -- $553 million -- has been raised for cancer research by Terry's Marathon of Hope and The Terry Fox Foundation.
"This transformation continues today. The research institute that now bears Terry's name will play a key role in translating these findings into the clinic. Giving hope. Reducing the pain and suffering. Finding a cure. This is the dream."
Marathon of Hope: By the numbers
- Days Fox ran: 143
- Kilometres run: 5,373
- Average km per day: 37.57
- Amount raised for cancer research during run: $1.7 million
- Amount raised by his death, June 28, 1981: More than $24 million
- Amount raised during first Terry Fox Run, Sept. 13, 1981: $3.5 million
- Amount raised in 30 years of Terry Fox Runs: $553 million
Fox was sent to a hospital in B.C., where doctors discovered the source of his chest pains: cancer had spread to his lungs. While the Marathon of Hope came to a sudden halt, donations kept coming. A total of $24.17 million was raised, surpassing Fox's initial goal.
What impact did him and his marathon on Canada?
For us -- and millions of Canadians including school children -- Terry Fox is the face of cancer research. His Marathon of Hope, now a 30-year legacy, continues to inspire people here at home and around the world.
Terry's vision and courage have helped to reshape Canada in many ways. Importantly, it transformed cancer research here, establishing a new attitude and threshold regarding what kind of investment was necessary to support cancer research. Through the National Cancer Institute of Canada (NCIC), Terry Fox Foundation funds were allocated to researchers and teams for nearly three decades.More than half a billion dollars -- $553 million -- has been raised for cancer research by Terry's Marathon of Hope and The Terry Fox Foundation.
"This transformation continues today. The research institute that now bears Terry's name will play a key role in translating these findings into the clinic. Giving hope. Reducing the pain and suffering. Finding a cure. This is the dream."