Remembering the Marathon of Hope

Patricia Corrigan April 10, 2015

Last week the Canadian Museum of History unveiled its newest exhibition: Terry Fox — Running to the Heart of Canada. We were pleased to welcome Terry’s family members and friends for the opening event, and to hear the candid stories they shared when reflecting on the Marathon of Hope.

Listening to these stories of Terry’s struggles and triumphs makes you stop and think about the real heroism of this courageous young man who believed he could truly make a difference. No one can doubt that Terry achieved his goal. In addition to raising $23.4 million, or one dollar from every Canadian (as he had hoped), Terry’s influence endures. In the 35 years since Terry took the first steps of his Marathon of Hope, the annual Terry Fox runs organized in September in cities all across this country and the world have raised some $650 million in Terry’s name to support cancer research and awareness.

Terry’s story continues to resonate in the minds of Canadians who remember him for his heroism, courage, tenacity and selflessness. During the opening event for this exhibition, Dr. Sheldon Posen, curator of the exhibition, together with Claire Champ, creative development specialist, and Erin Gurski, research assistant, delivered a speech that recognized the millions of everyday Canadians who made the Marathon of Hope an overwhelming success 35 years ago and who continue to support it today. The following is an excerpt from their speech.  

Terry Fox – Running to the Heart of Canada. Photo: Gail Harvey.

It was Terry Fox who ran the Marathon of Hope, no one else. But on July 11, 1980, he said to a crowd gathered at Scarborough Civic Centre, “When you’re cheering and clapping for me, you’re not just cheering and clapping for me, because there’s so many other people involved in the run that nobody hears about.”

As it was then, so it is now. There are millions of people who have made the Marathon of Hope the overwhelming success it has been for 35 years. Many of these people are with us here today. You will know who you are.

• Anyone who saw Terry Fox in person as he ran between St. John’s, Newfoundland and Thunder Bay, Ontario.
• Anyone who heard Terry Fox in person make a speech during the Marathon of Hope.
• Anyone who gave a dollar or more for cancer research while Terry was running.
• Anyone who wrote a letter to Terry Fox.
• Anyone who drew a picture, wrote a poem or made a song about Terry Fox.
• Anyone who kept a scrapbook about Terry Fox.
• Anyone who watched the CTV Terry Fox telethon on September 9, 1980.
• Anyone who organized a Terry Fox run or fundraising event that fall.
• Anyone who attended the Terry Fox memorial service on Parliament Hill, July 2, 1981.
• Anyone who has kept a Terry Fox loonie as a special good luck token.
• Anyone who has attended a school named for Terry Fox.
• Anyone who has read a book about Terry Fox to their children.
• Anyone whose children have told them about Terry Fox.
• Anyone who has had their picture taken beside a statue of Terry Fox — or knitted a scarf for one.
• Anyone who has hiked in a park or climbed a mountain named for Terry Fox.
• Anyone who has shone black light on the Terry Fox page of their new Canadian passport.
• Anyone who has organized or participated in a Terry Fox run in September.
• Anyone who has survived cancer because of the money raised in Terry Fox’s name.
• Anyone who has felt inspired by Terry Fox during difficult medical treatment.
• Anyone who doesn’t feel disabled because of the example of Terry Fox.
• Anyone who has ever said to themselves, “If Terry could do that, I can do this.”
• Anyone who, when asked to name a Canadian hero, names Terry Fox.
• Anyone who is proud to be Canadian when they think of Terry Fox.

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If you have recognized yourself or someone you know in this list, then you, like millions of Canadians, are what our exhibition is about.

Did you participate in any of these activities?  Why is Terry Fox important to you?