Do you remember where you were when you first heard about Terry Fox and the Marathon of Hope? Did he run through your town? Or did you learn about his inspirational story in school while watching the video footage of Terry with the highway unfolding in front of him?
To say that Terry Fox captured the hearts of Canadians is an understatement – all of Canada fell in love with him along his journey. He raised $1.7 million during his marathon, and before he passed away, $24 million had been raised in his name.
“When we think of Terry we often think of the end of his journey, but in April 1980, it was Terry and his friend Doug who embarked on a cross-country journey to change the world for people living with cancer,” said Pam Damoff, Ward 2 councillor and chair of the Oakville Terry Fox Run.
But the legacy of Terry Fox didn’t end there as each year in mid-September, Terry Fox Runs are held in Canada and across the globe. On Sept. 15, 2013, ‘Terry Foxers’ in over 750 locations across Canada came together to celebrate Terry’s spirit and to raise funds for cancer research.
Again this year, Team Ford – made up of employees from the Ford of Canada and Ford Credit Canada corporate office, as well as Oakville Assembly – participated in the Oakville Terry Fox Run.
“We had a great group out from Ford this year,” said James Rowland, Government Relations manager, Ford of Canada, who organized the team. “Terry Fox was an inspiration, and it’s fantastic to see that year after year, so many people continue to keep his memory alive and support cancer research.”
The weather was perfect for the more than 1,200 people who walked, ran, roller-bladed and biked along a 2K, 5K or 10K route in Oakville. According to organizers, this year’s event raised more than $112,000 for cancer research.
“Terry said, ‘Even if I don’t finish, we need others to continue. It’s got to keep going without me,’” said Damoff. “Only together we will outrun cancer.”