Celebrating 45 Years of Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope
Key Points
- Today marks 45 years since Terry Fox started the Marathon of Hope on April 12th, 1980, a significant event in Canadian history.
- Terry Fox, a Canadian hero, ran across Canada with a prosthetic leg to raise funds for cancer research, covering 5,373 km before cancer forced him to stop.
- The Marathon of Hope raised over $24 million initially and inspired the annual Terry Fox Run, now raising over $900 million globally for cancer research.
- This event is deeply embedded in Canadian culture, symbolizing unity, perseverance, and national pride, with Terry Fox commemorated on currency and in public spaces.
- Canada is my Home offers a wide selection of apparel and accessories to celebrate Canada and show your patriotic love to our nation, strong and free. Wear your pride!
Terry Fox and the Marathon of Hope
Terry Fox, born in 1958 in Winnipeg and raised in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, was an active athlete diagnosed with bone cancer at 18, leading to the amputation of his right leg. Undeterred, he continued in sports like wheelchair basketball, winning national championships. In 1980, inspired by cancer patients, he embarked on the Marathon of Hope from St. John’s, Newfoundland, aiming to run a marathon daily across Canada to fund cancer research.
The Marathon of Hope: A Journey Across Canada
On April 12th, 1980, Fox began the Marathon of Hope, intending to run across Canada to raise funds for cancer research. Starting in St. John’s, Newfoundland, he aimed to cover 42 km daily, the distance of a marathon, until reaching the Pacific Ocean. His journey, detailed in sources like Canadian Geographic’s mapping of the run, took him through Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, and Ontario. He ran an average of 42 km per day, facing challenges like spring storms and heat, covering 5,373 km in 143 days.
Terry Fox’s 1980 Marathon of Hope, with the months of his journey highlighted in different colours. (Map: Chris Brackley/Canadian Geographic)
Fox’s run was not widely noticed initially, with few attending the start, but his determination grew as communities began to cheer him on, donating to his cause. His goal was to raise $1 from every Canadian, later adjusted to $24 million, reflecting his ambition to fund cancer research significantly. However, on September 1st, 1980, near Thunder Bay, Ontario, chest pain forced him to stop, revealing cancer in his lungs. Despite not completing the run, his efforts raised over $24 million, a testament to his impact.
Legacy and Cultural Significance
Terry Fox passed away on June 28th, 1981, at age 22, but his legacy endures through the annual Terry Fox Run, first held in 1981 and now the world’s largest one-day fundraiser for cancer research, involving millions in over 60 countries. As of September 2024, over $900 million has been raised through the Terry Fox Research Institute. This event, detailed on the Terry Fox Foundation website, continues to fund cancer research, uniting Canadians in a shared mission.
In Canadian culture, Fox is a national hero, embodying perseverance and unity. He is the youngest Companion of the Order of Canada, received the 1980 Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada’s athlete of the year, and is named a Person of National Historic Significance by the government, as per The Canadian Encyclopedia. His image appears on the $1 coin, and he is commemorated with statues, schools, and parks, reflecting his role in fostering national pride and compassion. In further recognition of his enduring legacy, the Government of Canada announced on December 16, 2024, that Terry Fox will be featured on the new $5 bill, replacing Sir Wilfrid Laurier, who will appear on the next version of the $50 bill.
Celebrating Canada Every Single Day
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