Running down Terry Fox’s dream
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In an era when today’s endurance feats seemingly defy human limits, his accomplishments still marvel.
Terry Fox during his run across Canada to raise money for cancer research. He did not finish the run and died in a Vancouver hospital in 1981. 
In 1980, a curly-haired young man dipped a prosthetic right leg in the Atlantic Ocean in St. John’s, Nlfd., before embarking on a cross-country journey to raise money and awareness for cancer research.
With his signature hop-step running gait, Terry Fox, often only wearing grey shorts, a white cotton T-shirt with the words Marathon of Hope stencilled on the front, and blue adidas shoes, ran an average of 42 kilometres, or the equivalent of a full marathon, for 143 days. In total, he tallied 5,373 kilometres spanning six provinces.
His physical journey ended Sept. 1 of that year just shy of Thunder Bay when the cancer that had claimed his leg at age 18 had returned in his lungs. He died 10 months later, shortly before his 23rd birthday. However, his dream of raising millions of dollars for cancer research never faded.
Forty-five years after Fox captured a nation’s heart with his courage and tenacity, his legacy continues to burn brightly. Terry Fox Runs have become a September fundraising fixture across the country and around the world for the Terry Fox Foundation, with the organization raising more than $900 million to date.
Manitoba has long proudly claimed Fox as one of its own. He was born in Winnipeg and attended Wayoata Elementary School in Transcona before his family moved to B.C.
Winnipeg is holding its Terry Fox Run on Sunday in Assiniboine Park. Registration begins at 9 a.m., followed by a start time of 10 a.m. People can walk, run or ride at their own pace.
Terry Fox Run moment of silence in 1981.
Nearly 1000 students and teachers from Chief Peguis Junior High School and Donwood Elementary School raised $1,000 at their own Terry Fox Run in 1983.
Terry Fox’s mom Betty kicks off the Terry Fox Run in 1989.
Despite light showers in the morning, hundreds still took part in the Terry Fox run at Assiniboine Park in 2003.
Grades K to 5 students at Riverbend Community School take part in the Terry Fox Foundation Walk Friday.
Grades K to 5 students at Riverbend Community School take part in the Terry Fox Foundation Walk Friday.
Grades K to 5 students at Riverbend Community School take part in the Terry Fox Foundation Walk Friday.