Terry Fox came from ordinary circumstances, as a resident of British Columbia born in 1958, but the legacy of his work toward funding cancer research has made him a Canadian hero. Terry loved sports, especially basketball and running. This made his diagnosis more tragic and difficult for him to deal with.
At only eighteen years old, he was diagnosed with osteogenic sarcoma, or bone cancer. Since cancer treatments at his time were not as developed as they are today, his right leg was amputated above his knee.
Terry went through treatment with a positive attitude, and he noticed the suffering of his fellow patients, with a special place in his heart for the children diagnosed with such a devastating disease as cancer. He believed that things could be different if only the science of preventing and treating cancer was developed. He made this his personal mission by setting out on the Marathon of Hope in 1980.
The Marathon of Hope involved Terry running across Canada so that he could bring attention to the need for funding cancer research. Since his leg was amputated, he used a prosthetic leg, or a fake leg.
Rather than waiting for the government to fund the effort, his run spoke directly to the Canadian public, who responded with donations in kind. He started in Newfoundland, all the way to the East of Canada, and intended to run all the way to British Columbia.
His goal of drawing attention to the need to fund cancer research worked – news writers and producers followed him along the way.
Due to his cancer’s growth, he had to stop in Ontario. Nine months after he stopped the Marathon of Hope, he passed away at age 22. However, his legacy does not end there. Instead, the Terry Fox Foundation was established, and it has raised hundreds of millions of dollars for cancer research.
In schools across Canada, students today take part in Terry Fox runs in honour of his legacy. While you may be an international student, and have not taken part in a Terry Fox run, Alexander College Library would like to invite you to participate in the following events:
Event Overview by Date
| Date | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| April 12, 2025 | Terry Fox Exhibit Opens | Port Coquitlam Community Centre |
| September 13, 2025 | Sculpture unveiling | Port Coquitlam Community Centre |
| September 14, 2025 | Coquitlam Terry Fox Run | Mundy Park, Coquitlam |
| September 15, 2025 | Port Coquitlam Hometown Run | Hyde Creek Recreation Centre |
| September 18, 2025 | SFU Terry Fox Run at three campuses | SFU Burnaby, Vancouver & Surrey |
Alexander College acknowledges that the land on which we usually gather is the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. We are grateful to have the opportunity to work in this territory.
Alexander College acknowledges that the land on which we usually gather is the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. We are grateful to have the opportunity to work in this territory.
+1 604-435-5815
4805 Kingsway
Burnaby, BC
V5H 4T6 Canada
+1 604-681-5815
#100 - 570 Dunsmuir St
Vancouver, BC
V6B 1Y1 Canada
