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Marathon of Hope

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Terry Fox

The Marathon of Hope igh a name given to the cross-Canada run undertaken by cancer patient Terry Fox in 1980. It is commemorated each year with the Terry Fox Run which is an international event that raises money for cancer research.

The initial goal of the run was to raise $1 million to be used for cancer research. After running through Port aux Basques, Newfoundland, Terry changed his goal from raising $1 million to raising $1 for each person in Canada at the time ($24 million).

Terry Fox intended to run across the entire country; Starting April 12 from St. John's, Newfoundland to Victoria, BC along the Trans Canada Highway distance of almost 8,000 kilometres (5,000 mi), at a pace of 42 kilometres (26.1 mi) a day. The Marathon would have taken 185 days of running, had he maintained his pace.

Terry Fox sought no personal or financial gain for his efforts. His run was also a 'true' run across Canada; not taking the fastest route, he made sure that he would pass by the most populous regions of the country. The goal of the run was to raise money and awareness for cancer research. In order to get the Canadian Cancer Society to support him, he had to get corporate sponsorship for the run.

Unfortunately, on September 1, 1980, his run stopped just northeast of Thunder Bay. Poor breathing prevented him from running further; Terry visited a local hospital, where he discovered that his cancer had spread to his lungs. Due to his poor health, from both the return of the cancer and the grueling pace of his running, he had to stop his journey across Canada. By this point, he had run for 143 consecutive days totalling 5,374 kilometres (3,339 mi).

He returned to British Columbia for further medical treatment. While in hospital, Terry received a telegram from Four Seasons hotel executive Isadore Sharp (who had recently lost his own son to cancer) telling him that his Marathon of Hope would be continued in his honour with an annual run, and that they would not stop until Terry's dream of beating cancer was realized.

Today, a life-sized bronze statue of Terry Fox in motion is located in a memorial park along the Trans-Canada Highway – the spot where he had to end his run.

Statue of Terry Fox overlooking the Trans-Canada Highway (48°29′04″N 89°10′05″W / 48.484361°N 89.167989°W / 48.484361; -89.167989)

Legacy

Steve Fonyo, an amputee and cancer survivor who was inspired by Fox, embarked on the "Journey for Lives" in 1984. Unlike Fox, however, Fonyo successfully traversed the entire country, reaching the Pacific Ocean on May 29, 1985.

The Terry Fox Run, an annual marathon held in many Canadian cities to raise money for cancer research, continues to be held today.

Inspired by Terry Fox's run, Rick Hansen, a Canadian paraplegic athlete and activist, undertook his 1985 Man in Motion world tour which saw him raise $26 M for spinal cord research and quality of life improvements after logging over 40,000 km through 34 countries on four continents before crossing Canada.

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