On April 12, 1980, in St. John’s, Newfoundland, a young athlete dipped his leg into the chilly Atlantic Ocean. And he began to run.
Of course, the athlete was Terry Fox. And the leg was artificial.
Terry’s prosthesis was nothing like the high-tech blades para-athletes use today. It was little more than a fibreglass bucket with a steel post. To make the leg more comfortable, Terry and the man who built it experimented with a pogo stick design and a motorcycle shock absorber. They didn’t work, but that didn’t stop Terry. He put a thick sock on his stump, strapped on the prosthetic leg, and adjusted his posture and gait to make it work.
The leg was primitive and unwieldy, but it was easy to repair. One time, it was fixed by an auto mechanic using parts from a 1978 Chevy Malibu.
Somehow, Terry used this unbelievably basic leg to run more than 10,000 kilometres: 5,000 in training and 5,373 during the Marathon of Hope. He ran through rain, snow, heavy winds, hail, and scorching heat. He ran when his stump was raw and bleeding. He ran even as the cancer was spreading to his lungs.
Terry ran the equivalent of a marathon (42 kilometres) every day for 143 days. He started at 4:30 each morning and often didn’t finish until 7:00 at night. Along the way, Terry stopped in more than 400 towns and schools to explain why he was running.
People began to rally behind him and his message that research was the key to a world without cancer. Adults along the road emptied their wallets. Children gave the change from their piggy banks. A musician who didn’t have any cash gave Terry his expensive guitar.
He made it more than halfway across our enormous country when his cancer returned and he was forced to stop. He died 10 months later, on June 28, 1981, one month shy of his 23rd birthday. But he had achieved his audacious goal of raising $24 million: $1 from every Canadian.
This is how we finish it
Every September, tens of thousands of supporters take to local parks, trails, rec centres, and campuses to participate and raise money for life-changing cancer research. This year, the Run takes on even more significance as Canada honours the 45th anniversary of Terry’s Marathon of Hope.
Thanks to countless donors like you, the Terry Fox Foundation has raised more than $950 million and funded over 1,300 innovative cancer research projects. Incredibly, much of the money has come from grassroots fundraising – like the Sudbury Terry Fox Run.
Funds raised in Terry’s name support world-class cancer research through the Terry Fox Research Institute (TFRI). TFRI invests your donations in Canada’s leading cancer scientists so they can do what they do best: look for better, more effective ways to diagnose, treat, and prevent cancer. It’s working. People are living longer with cancer because research has led to earlier detection and more effective treatments.
At your local Terry Fox Run, you’ll probably notice people wearing both red and purple “Finish It” Run shirts. Purple shirts are worn by TFRI cancer scientists and people on the front lines with cancer patients and their families. Red shirts are worn by cancer patients and survivors. These extra special folks are called Terry’s Team Members. Seeing those red shirts is a powerful reminder that cancer research works – and that the money you raise is helping to save and improve lives.
“Terry would be humbled by the many, many people who volunteer their time and fundraise in Terry’s name. I don’t think even Terry could have envisioned that, each year, thousands of people would give so much of themselves to help us Finish It,” says Fred Fox, Terry’s older brother.
Fundraise, participate, volunteer, have fun
Terry didn’t run for fame or glory. He ran for one reason only: to raise money for cancer research.
And on September 14th, people in Sudbury – and in communities across Canada – will come together to honour Terry and support his enduring legacy. The Sudbury Terry Fox Run will take place at the Grace Hartman Amphitheatre, off of Bell Park Boardwalk .
Terry knew that everyone can make a difference and that’s why the Terry Fox Run is all about participation, inclusion, and camaraderie – not competition. For example, although it’s called a “Run,” you don’t have to run. You can walk, roll, or simply come out to cheer and be part of this very special, uniquely Canadian tradition.
- Register, fundraise, and participate in your local Terry Fox Run on September 14.
- Put the FUN in fundraising with your own creative ideas to raise money: have a bake sale, organize a raffle, host a trivia party at work, start a Run in your community. Your fundraiser doesn’t even have to be held on Run Day.
- Make a symbolic $45 donation to honour the 45th anniversary of the Marathon of Hope.
- Ask your employer about matching your donation.
- Wear your support by shopping the collection of limited-edition 45th anniversary clothing and merchandise at shop.terryfox.org.
- Volunteer at your local Community Run.
Visit the Sudbury Terry Fox Run page to register or donate.
Visit terryfox.org to learn how you can help Finish It!