Runners hit the pavement on Sunday to mark the anniversary of Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope, a courageous journey that continues to captivate and inspire Canadians 35 years later.
On April 12, 1980, Terry kicked off his historic cross-country odyssey by dipping his artificial leg into the Atlantic Ocean. Fox, who was born in Winnipeg, had his right leg amputated 15 centimetres above the knee after a malignant tumour was discovered.
Despite the physical strain of running with a prosthetic, Terry averaged approximately 42 kilometres a day, the equivalent of a full marathon. Fox’s goal was to run across Canada and reach the Pacific Ocean, but he was forced to cut his marathon short after learning that cancer had spread to his lung. Fox died on June 28,1981 -- one month short of his 23rd birthday.
But Fox’s fight has not been forgotten; his legacy inspired thousands of Canadians around him.
Fox was not far from runner Debbie Howie’s mind on Sunday.
“I remember Terry being my hero,” Howie told CTV Atlantic. “I remember him dipping his leg in the ocean, following him along the route.
“I was there on the side of the road when he passed through the Sydney area, and my heart was just in it for him.”
Terry’s Marathon of Hope has since raised more than $650 million. He has inspired athletes and everyday citizens around the world to push their limits and to dream big.
“Just imagining what he went through and how he pushed through, it’s incredible,” said Kelly MacDonald, who also ran to honour Fox's memory on Sunday.
With a report from CTV Atlantic Ryan Macdonald
