Running for a Cure: The Legacy of Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope

Terry Fox was a Canadian athlete and cancer research activist who became famous for his Marathon of Hope, a cross-country run to raise money and awareness for cancer research.

Terry Fox’s journey is deeply intertwined with his battle against cancer and his quest to find a cure. Born on July 28, 1958, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Fox was an avid athlete in his youth, participating in various sports. At the age of 18, he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma. The disease led to the amputation of his right leg above the knee in 1977.

During his recovery, Fox was deeply moved by the suffering of other cancer patients, especially children. He became determined to make a difference. His idea was to run across Canada to raise funds for cancer research and to increase public awareness of the disease. He called his campaign the Marathon of Hope.

On October 15, 1979, Fox sent a letter to the Canadian Cancer Society in which he announced his goal and appealed for funding. He stated that he would ‘conquer’ his disability, and promised to complete his run, even if he had to ‘crawl every last mile’. Explaining why he wanted to raise money for research, Fox described his personal experience of cancer treatment:

“I soon realized that that would only be half my quest, for as I went through the 16 months of the physically and emotionally draining ordeal of chemotherapy, I was rudely awakened by the feelings that surrounded and coursed through the cancer clinic. There were faces with the brave smiles, and the ones who had given up smiling. There were feelings of hopeful denial, and the feelings of despair. My quest would not be a selfish one. I could not leave knowing these faces and feelings would still exist, even though I would be set free from mine. Somewhere the hurting must stop….and I was determined to take myself to the limit for this cause.”

The Cancer Society agreed to support Fox once he had acquired sponsors and requested he get a medical certificate from a heart specialist stating that he was fit to attempt the run.

A second letter was sent to several corporations seeking donations for a vehicle and running shoes, and to cover the other costs of the run. Fox sent other letters asking for grants to buy a running leg. The Ford Motor Company donated a camper van, while Imperial Oil contributed fuel, and Adidas his running shoes. Fox turned away any company that requested he endorse their products and refused any donation that carried conditions, as he insisted that nobody was to profit from his run.

On April 12, 1980, Fox began his run in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Despite his prosthetic leg and the physical challenges he faced, he ran an average of 42 kilometers (26 miles) a day, which is the distance of a marathon. His pace and determination captivated the nation, and his journey garnered widespread media attention and public support.

Fox’s run was cut short on September 1, 1980, near Thunder Bay, Ontario, when his cancer returned and spread to his lungs. After 143 days and 5,373 kilometers (3,339 miles), Fox was forced to stop. He died on June 28, 1981, at the age of 22.

Although his run did not achieve its original goal of running across Canada, Fox’s impact was profound. His courage and dedication to cancer research inspired millions. The Terry Fox Foundation was established to continue his work, and the annual Terry Fox Run, which began in 1981, has grown into one of the world’s largest fundraising events for cancer research.

This year funds raised from Terry Fox will go towards The Institute of Cancer Research.

In 2024, the event is set to take place on Sunday, September 15 all across Canada.

The Institute of Cancer Research shared on X:

“44 years ago, Terry Fox ran 3,339 miles over 143 days after losing his leg to osteogenic sarcoma, a rare bone cancer. His legacy lives on today and we’re honoured that funds raised from Terry Fox will go towards our Cancer Research.

15 September
Battersea Park Run, walk, cycle or just cheer everyone on! Thank you to CIBC, NationalBank, Tim Hortons UK, Verition Fund Management and Bombardier UK their support. Grab your running trainers, we’ll see you there.”

Source: The Institute of Cancer Research/X

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