THUNDER BAY - In cities around the world, people gathered to walk, run, or cycle to honour the man who pushed himself to the limit for 143 days to raise money and awareness for cancer research. Terry Fox’s legacy, which crosses all boundaries, continues to inspire to this day.
“It just shows you the power of what he did,” said Don Morrison, chairperson of the Terry Fox Run. “This was a young man with one leg who ran halfway across the country. He did a marathon a day. I’ve run marathons. I know how painful that is and I’m able-bodied. That young man did it every day, 143 days, a marathon on one leg.”
On Sunday, hundreds gathered in the city where Terry Fox ended his Marathon of Hope for the 39thAnnual Terry Fox Run.
According to Morrison, the local run usually draws between 300 and 400 participants and this year also saw more than $3,300 raised in online donations.
“Last year in Thunder Bay between the run and the school projects, we raised more than $37,000, so we would like to match that again,” he said. “Thunder Bay is a generous city, so we are always hopeful.”
Terry Fox began his Marathon of Hope in 1980 and ran a marathon a day on one leg. After 143 days his trek across the country came to an end just outside of Thunder Bay when the cancer he had been fighting spread to his lungs. He later died in June 1981.
Terry Fox has always had a special place in the hearts of the people of Thunder Bay, Morrison said, and the support the run has received over the years showing how much he means to all Canadians.
“As we all know, the monument is here,” Morrison said. “He stopped his run 39 years ago here. Thunder Bay has always had a special spot in its heart for Terry. I suspect that there probably isn’t a person in this city who hasn’t had a friend or family member impacted by cancer. Every dollar raised goes to cancer research.”
Lynn and Darren Steen of Winnipeg were in Thunder Bay for the Terry Fox Run and through their business and the help of mutual clients, raised $1,000.
“We have been raising money for the last week and we hit our goal of $1,000 in only about four days,” Darren said.
Originally from Thunder Bay, Darren said it was nice to be back in city for the run and continue on the Marathon of Hope with so many others.
“I was born and raised here so we decided to come back for the weekend and it’s a great cause and we are happy to be part of it,” he said. “I think everybody knows a lot of people who have either been stricken with the disease or has been affected by cancer. If Terry Fox can do a marathon a day, we should be able to do a kilometer.”