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Annual Terry Fox Run returns in person this Sunday

Just over 42 years ago, in 1980, Terry Fox set off on his Marathon of Hope in an effort to raise funds for cancer research.

Now, in 2022 Fox's message and perseverance has continued to resonate to millions of people around the world.

<who> Photo Credit: Millwood Elementary </who>The path of Fox's Marathon of Hope. In total, he ran the equivalent of a marathon a day (42km) for 143 days. Fox's goal was to make it to the Pacific Ocean, but was forced to cut his run short in Thunder Bay, as his osteogenic sarcoma had spread to his lungs.

Fred Fox, an older brother of Terry's, has continued to advocate and spread the message of Terry's Marathon of Hope around the world.

"One of the things that Terry often said was that we will all be touched by cancer in one way or another," he said. "We might not get it ourselves, but a family member, a friend, someone we know down the road or street might be diagnosed with cancer and that is why it was important to give to cancer research then and that is still the case today."

<who> Photo Credit: Terry Fox Foundation </who> Fred Fox, wearing a shirt with the image of Terry on it.

This year, the Terry Fox Foundation will be celebrating its 42nd annual Terry Fox Run. It will be the first time in two years without COVID impacting the scale of the run.

"Everybody is really excited about being back in person," Fox said. "I think it is going to be a big celebration."

The Foundation was formed in 1988, eight years after Terry's Marathon of Hope, and seven after he passed away.

"Terry Fox runs were happening right away, in 1981, after Terry passed away, but it was felt that it was time to form an organization that represented Terry's values," explained Fox.

"Ever since (1988), we have been organizing the Terry Fox Run, not only in the communities across Canada and around the world, but also school events."

Over 9,000 schools, 600 communities across the country and 120 around BC has Terry Fox Runs.

"It is all doing what Terry wanted us to do and that is to fundraise for cancer research."

The Terry Fox Run is the largest one-day fundraiser for cancer research in the world. At the time, Terry's goal was to raise a dollar from every citizen in the country.

More than 40 years later, over $850 million has been raised in Fox's name.

Every year, in addition to the run, schools across the country take part in their own version of the Marathon of Hope, as an education tool on perseverance and a fundraising opportunity for cancer research.

"Although all those students today weren't born 42 years ago, they all know who Terry Fox is and they are inspired by Terry," Fox mentioned. "They work hard to fundraise and they learn from Terry the values of working hard and never giving up and that anybody can accomplish the dreams that they set for themselves."

The run in Kelowna will take place on Sunday, Sept. 18 at Stuart Park.

Victoria's run will be at Mile 0, just near the Terry Fox monument. Penticton's is set for SS Sicamous on Lakeshore Drive while Kamloops' will be at Riverside Park. All runs will be from 10 am- 1 pm.

Admission is free, but there will be a plethora of silent auctions and other giveaways that will be by donation. For those who can not run, any physical activity is encouraged, whether that is walk, skip, bike or wheel.

The annual school run will take place five days later, on Friday, Sept. 23.

To learn more about the foundation, please click here.



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