Canadian icon Terry Fox (Courtesy www.terryfox.org.)Canadian icon Terry Fox (Courtesy www.terryfox.org.)
Chatham

Fred Fox reflects on his brother Terry's Marathon of Hope

Many Canadians will step out on their own this weekend to mark the 40th anniversary of the Marathon of Hope.

Like many events this year, the Terry Fox Run on Sunday will be virtual due to restrictions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Terry's older brother, Fred Fox said people seem to be embracing the change in order to support cancer research.

"Canadians and people around the world have really responded well to this opportunity of doing things a little bit differently and are still registering at our website terryfox.org and still fundraising as well," he said.

Fox said the foundation started planning for a very different 40th anniversary run shortly after last year's event.

He said looking back to when Terry first approached their mother about starting a marathon across Canada to raise money for cancer research, they all questioned why. Fox said their mother offered an alternative to run to Vancouver from the border of Alberta and British Columbia but Terry wanted to do more.

"Terry simply said to mom, 'Not only people in B.C. get cancer but people right across Canada do,'" said Fox.

From there, Terry had the support of his family before starting what would become the Marathon of Hope.

Fox said back then, they didn't realize how much attention Terry's marathon would get. Fox also reflected on when he joined his brother during Terry's trek through Toronto.

"Terry loved the fact that more money was being raised for cancer research but Ontario really stepped up at that point in supporting what Terry was doing," said Fox. "Terry said while he was in Toronto, 'Even if I don't finish, its got to keep going without me' and Canadians have responded and have taken up that challenge for 40 years."

In April, the Terry Fox Foundation announced that over $800 million was raised to support cancer research in Terry's name.

The Chatham-Kent community is showing support for the upcoming virtual Terry Fox Run in various ways, from a small flag-raising ceremony held earlier this week to a specially designed corn maze in Thamesville.

Chatham Terry Fox Run organizer Pat McMahon (left), General Manager of Corporate Services and Chief Human Resources Officer Cathy Hoffman, CAO Don Shropshire, and Mayor Darrin Canniff at the Chatham-Kent Civic Centre. September 14, 2020. (Photo courtesy of the Municipality of Chatham-Kent).Chatham Terry Fox Run organizer Pat McMahon (left), General Manager of Corporate Services and Chief Human Resources Officer Cathy Hoffman, CAO Don Shropshire, and Mayor Darrin Canniff at the Chatham-Kent Civic Centre. September 14, 2020. (Photo courtesy of the Municipality of Chatham-Kent).

-With files from Chris and Jen, CK Mornings 94.3 CKSY

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