Terry Fox Run

by Ocean McClean and Jake Roche

Terry Fox, Marathon of Hope 1980

“If I died, I would die happy because I was doing what I wanted to do.” 

Terry Fox was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and raised in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, a community on the West Coast. When Terry was in school, he demonstrated an incredible amount of determination with sports, school, family, and friends. Terry noticed a pain in his leg in November 1976 after he rear-ended a truck while driving on the highway. The car was totaled, but Terry was fine and showed no visible injuries. The only problem was a sore right knee, which Terry assumed he must have hurt during the crash. Terry finally went to the SFU health center once the basketball season was over. Soon after he was only 18 years old when he was diagnosed with osteogenic sarcoma (bone cancer) and was forced to have his right leg amputated above the knee in 1977. 

While in the hospital battling cancer, Terry was so overcome by the suffering of other cancer patients around him, many of them being young children, he decided to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research. He wasn't doing this for money or fame but instead to create change and find a cure for all cancers. 

  He began the Marathon of Hope in St. Johns Newfoundland and Labrador on April 12^th, 1980, where he collected a bottle of Atlantic Ocean water to symbolically pour into the Pacific Ocean at the end of his journey. Although it was difficult to gain attention in the beginning, enthusiasm soon grew, and the money collected along his route began to mount. He ran close to 42 kilometers (26 miles) a day through Canada's Atlantic provinces, Quebec and Ontario.

However, on September 1st, after 143 days and 5,373 kilometers (3,339 miles), Terry was forced to stop running outside of Thunder Bay, Ontario because cancer had appeared in his lungs. An entire nation was stunned and saddened. Terry passed away on June 28, 1981, at the age of 22. 

The heroic Canadian was gone, but his legacy was only just beginning. Before his death, Terry had achieved his once unimaginable goal of $1 from every Canadian. More importantly, he had set in motion the event we all know today as The Terry Fox Run, that would ignite cancer research in Canada, raising over $950 million from 1980 to late 2024 and early 2025, bringing hope to millions of Canadians.  

Meanwhile, in our lovely local high school we honor him and remember his legacy by participating in the Terry Fox run, raising money and awareness for cancer research. GISS also did various activities such as fundraising challenges like our Yerba Matte raffle, and “Toonies for Terry” because adding fun incentives make sure donation goals are met. Assemblies, videos and classroom discussions share Terry's story, reminding students of his courage and determination. Our school also created posters and wore Terry Fox shirts to show their support. These activities don't just raise funds but also inspire students to reflect on values like perseverance, hope and community.