Decades after his death, Terry Fox continues to inspire Canadians — and later this month St. Albert residents will once again join the annual run in his honour.
For St. Albert Terry Fox Run chair Darryl Zelinski, the Marathon of Hope runner’s legacy is as powerful in 2025 as it was in 1981. He says Fox’s determination and resilience continue to draw people of all ages to the cause, making the St. Albert Terry Fox Run both a community tradition and part of a national movement.
“He’s inspired a lot of people just because he didn’t back down from tragedy,” Zelinski said. “He lost his leg to cancer, but he didn’t just wilt. He said, ‘Well, I’m going to do something with this. I’m going to run a marathon every day across Canada.’ So, he did it. He ran for 143 days. But as we all know, the cancer came back, and he couldn’t carry on.”
Fox has left a lasting mark on Canada. Born in Winnipeg, he spent his formative years with his family in Port Coquitlam, B.C. After losing his leg to osteosarcoma, he excelled at wheelchair basketball. He also ran 5,373 kilometres from St. John’s, N.L., to Thunder Bay, Ont. From April 12, 1980 to Sept. 1, 1980.
Following his death on June 28, 1981, the federal government ordered the unique honour of having flags nationwide flown at half-mast.
Addressing the House of Commons, then-prime minister Pierre Trudeau paid tribute to Fox, saying, “It occurs very rarely in the life of a nation that the courageous spirit of one person unites all people in the celebration of his life and in the mourning of his death. ... We do not think of him as one who was defeated by misfortune but as one who inspired us with the example of the triumph of the human spirit over adversity.”
“The Terry Fox Run is open to everybody,” Zelinski said. “So come in your wheelchair, you can roll it, you can run it, you can walk it, you can do whatever. It’s inclusive for everybody to come and just carry on Terry’s journey.”
This year marks the 45th Terry Fox Run. The Terry Fox Foundation released a new short film titled Finish It, in collaboration with The Tragically Hip and their 1991 hit Courage. The moving video depicts a CGI Terry Fox running alone on an empty road, only to be surrounded by a sea of runners. The Government of Canada will also feature Fox on the new $5 bill to further cement his legacy.
“The video is amazing and actually brings a tear to your eye,” said Zelinski. “You’ve got an iconic Canadian band with lead singer Gord Downie, who also died too soon of cancer.”
“I love the slogan they have this year,” Zelinski added, referencing the short film. “‘Finish it.’ There are going to be struggles along the way, but just keep that in mind and finish it. Carry on the legacy of Terry Fox and other people who inspire you.”
The St. Albert Terry Fox Run will take place Sunday, Sept. 14. Registration is at Lions Park (21 Sir Winston Churchill Ave) and starts at 9 a.m., with the five-kilometre race running from 10 a.m. to noon.
