What was Terry Fox's Marathon of Hope?

Terry Fox's Marathon of Hope was Fox's 1980 cross-country run for cancer research. Fox (July 28, 1958 to June 28, 1981) ran 5,373 kilometres in 143 days from St. John's, Newfoundland (April 12, 1980) to Thunder Bay, Ontario (September 1, 1980) on a prosthetic leg before his cancer recurrence ended the run. His 1980 effort raised about 1.7 million dollars at the time. The annual Terry Fox Run, founded by the Terry Fox Foundation after his death, has since raised over 850 million dollars for cancer research, making it one of the largest single-day fundraising events in the world. Fox is one of Canada's most enduring national heroes.

Fox was born in Winnipeg and grew up in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia. He was a competitive distance runner and basketball player. In November 1976 (at age 18) Fox was diagnosed with osteogenic sarcoma in his right knee. His right leg was amputated above the knee on March 9, 1977. After his recovery and during his treatment at the British Columbia Cancer Agency, Fox was inspired by the suffering of children with cancer he met. While in hospital he read Dick Traum's account of completing the New York Marathon as an amputee. Fox developed the idea of running across Canada to raise money for cancer research.

Fox began training for the Marathon of Hope in February 1979. He ran 5,000 kilometres in training over 14 months, often through severe weather. He had only one practice race (the Vancouver Marathon, August 1979) before the Marathon of Hope. Fox dipped his prosthetic leg in the Atlantic Ocean at St. John's, Newfoundland on April 12, 1980 to begin the run. He ran an average of about 42 kilometres (a marathon) per day for 143 days, accompanied by his younger brother Darrell and his friend Doug Alward in the support van. Initial public response was modest, but momentum built as Fox moved through the Maritimes and into Quebec and Ontario. He was met by crowds of thousands by the time he reached Toronto in July 1980.

On September 1, 1980 outside Thunder Bay, Ontario, Fox developed coughing and chest pain. Tests showed his cancer had spread to his lungs. He ended the Marathon of Hope after 5,373 kilometres. Fox died on June 28, 1981 in New Westminster, BC at age 22. The Terry Fox Foundation (founded 1980 by Fox and the Canadian Cancer Society, incorporated as an independent charity in 1988) has organised the annual Terry Fox Run since September 13, 1981. The Run takes place annually on the second Sunday after Labour Day at thousands of locations in Canada and over 60 countries worldwide. Fox is commemorated by the Terry Fox Memorial in Thunder Bay, the Terry Fox statue at Parliament Hill, the Mount Terry Fox in BC, the Terry Fox Foundation, and many other memorials. He was named Canadian Press Newsmaker of the Year for 1980 and 1981, was named Canadian of the Year in 1981, and was inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame in 1981. Fox is depicted on the 2005 Canadian one-dollar coin and the 2008 commemorative postage stamp.