Marathon of Hope Transcript

Narrator: It’s April 1972 and young Terry Fox is shooting hoops with his best friend Doug Alward. 

Doug: For a guy who is good at so many sports. You’re pretty bad at this one, Terry.

Terry: But I’m getting better, right? 

Doug: A bit, well, maybe. 

Narrator: Terry and Doug went on to star in several sports including basketball, soccer and track and field. They even shared the school award for Athlete of the Year. In 1977, Terry attended Simon Fraser University. He tried to focus on his studies, but his right knee started to bother him. The pain wouldn’t go away. Eventually, he and his parents consulted a doctor and received terrible news. 

Doctor: If we act quickly, I think we can stop the cancer from spreading, but we’ll have to remove the lower part of the leg. 

Narrator: After Terry’s surgery, he begins the long road to recovery. Slowly, he learns how to walk and even to run. During his recovery, he meets other cancer patients from all walks of life. He realizes just how much cancer impacts everyone and he vows to do something about it. 

Terry: I have to do this, cancer hurts so many people.

Mother: But honey, all the way across Canada? 

Terry: I’ve run thousands of miles to train for this. I know we can do it. Doug will be there with me. I want to raise $1 for cancer research from every Canadian. 

Mother: 24 million dollars?

Father: When do we start? 

Narrator: On April 12, 1980 Terry dips his artificial leg in the ocean at St. John’s Newfoundland and begins his Marathon of Hope. His goal is to run all the way across Canada while raising money for cancer research. It’s a long and lonely journey. 

Crowd: That young man runs 26 miles every day! A marathon every day, rain or shine.

Narrator: Terry reaches Montreal in June 1980. He meets businessman Isadore Sharp, whose son died of cancer in 1978. Sharp donates $10,000 to Terry’s cause. 

Sharpe: I’ve written to 999 other Canadian companies and asked them to give the same amount.

Narrator: Day after day, kilometre after kilometre, their crowds and excitement grow and so do the donations. In northern Ontario, Terry meets Greg Scott, a 10-year-old boy with an artificial leg. The two cancer survivors spend a wonderful day together.

Greg: When I lost my leg. It was really tough. But you’re my inspiration now, Terry. You make me believe that anything is possible.

Crowd: You can make it, Terry! We’re with you!

Narrator: Terry resumes his Marathon of Hope but it’s growing clear that something is wrong.

Terry: My leg is really hurting. 

Doug: You’ve run 3,339 miles. Of course, it’s hurting!

Terry: No Doug, it’s really hurting.

Narrator: Terry’s parents rushed to be at his side as he has taken by ambulance for treatment. Unfortunately, Terry soon learns that his cancer has returned. 

News anchor: Fox was forced to stop his run near Thunder Bay, Ontario a few weeks ago. Now he has learned that cancer has spread to both lungs. 

Narrator: Terry is forced to stop his marathon but all across Canada, people rally around him and his cause they hold fundraising concerts and gather donations everywhere they can. Finally in February of 1981 he reaches his fundraising goal.

Father: You did it, Terry! 

Mother: 24 million dollars. 

Father: 24.17 million to be exact. 

Narrator: Sadly, Terry Fox died on June 28, 1981. But his legacy will live forever. The first Terry Fox Run was held in September 1981. Since then, thousands of schools and communities across Canada and around the world have continued to chase Terry’s dreams of beating cancer by raising more than 650 million for cancer research.

Thanks to Terry Fox, countless people with cancer have new reasons for hope.