About Terry Fox
The Marathon of Hope
Terrance Stanley Fox was born on July 28, 1958, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He was an athlete, humanitarian, and cancer research activist.
The Diagnosis
In 1977, at just 18 years old, Terry was diagnosed with osteosarcoma — a form of bone cancer — in his right leg. His leg was amputated 15 cm above the knee. During his treatment, Terry was moved by the suffering of other cancer patients, especially children, and decided he would run across Canada to raise money for cancer research.
The Marathon of Hope
On April 12, 1980, Terry dipped his artificial leg in the Atlantic Ocean at St. John's, Newfoundland, and began his Marathon of Hope. Running the equivalent of a full marathon every single day, he covered 5,373 kilometres (3,339 miles) through six provinces over 143 days. His goal was to raise $1 from every Canadian — $24 million in total.
A Dream Interrupted
On September 1, 1980, just outside Thunder Bay, Ontario, Terry was forced to stop. The cancer had spread to his lungs. He was airlifted home to British Columbia, where he passed away on June 28, 1981, at the age of 22 — one month before his 23rd birthday.
An Enduring Legacy
Terry never finished his run, but his dream never died. The Terry Fox Foundation has raised over One Billion CAD for cancer research worldwide. Every year, millions of people in over 30 countries participate in Terry Fox Runs — including right here in Madrid.
"I just wish people would realize that anything's possible if you try; dreams are made possible if you try."— Terry Fox