“Not only is Terry Fox a hero but also he is an inspiration to us all and I cannot think of any other person who has made such a positive impact in people’s lives,” said Bloy. “Terry never felt sorry for himself. He refused to blame others for his cancer. Instead of complaining about it, he made the decision to help others afflicted by this disease.”

“Setting off from St. John’s Newfoundland, Terry’s Marathon of Hope captured the imagination and hearts of Canadians. It was moving to see this young man cheered on by hundreds of thousands of people at roadsides as he ran a marathon every day,” continued Bloy.

Upon seeing the suffering of cancer patients, especially children, Terry set off from St. John’s, Newfoundland on his coast-to-coast Marathon of Hope, in May of 1980. After running day-in-and-day-out for 5073 kilometres Terry was forced to stop in Thunder Bay, Ontario after the cancer had spread to his lungs. Despite fighting all the way, Terry succumbed to the disease on June 28, 1981.

One day after his marathon ended, Terry said this, “Even though I’m not running anymore, we still have to try to find a cure for cancer. Other people should go ahead and try to do their own thing now.”

Terry’s call to arms was answered when the first Terry Fox Run took place in 1981. Raising over $360 million, the Terry Fox Run is credited as the largest, single-day fundraising event for cancer research in the world. From Canada to Korea to Dubai, fifty-five countries hold runs annually.

“This Sunday marks the twenty-fifth Terry Fox Run and communities right across British Columbia will hold runs. I urge as many people as possible to participate or donate money so we complete Terry’s dream and find a cure for cancer,” Bloy added.

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