Friday, July 17 marks 40 years since Terry Fox visited London during his Marathon of Hope. This year, organizers for the annual Terry Fox Run hope that Terry’s message will continue to inspire generations of Canadians, even though COVID-19 means the event will look a bit different this year.
It was a hot day in 1980, when Terry ventured off his westerly path to pass through London, Ont. Two organizers for Terry’s run had London area connections, including the late Ron Calhoun who was the National
Special Events Coordinator for the Canadian Cancer Society. Calhoun famously coined the name “Marathon of Hope.”
The other London connection came from Terry’s Ontario Manager and Publicist, Bill Vigars. Vigars’ brother and Western University track and field coach, Bob, helped organize a team of 100 runners to join Terry as he ran westward down Dundas Street.
Pete Ferguson is the head of publicity for the Terry Fox Run today, and said the energy in the city that day was palpable.
“As they crossed Highbury Avenue and got closer to the middle of town, passed the Kellog’s building and the McCormick’s building, the crowd started to get larger and larger,” he said. “People were throwing money off the roof of the buildings, it was apparently quite a scene.”
Ferguson said that Terry was greeted by thousands of people in Victoria Park awaiting his arrival. Vigars apparently stated that the hadn’t seen a crowd as large as the one in London anywhere but Toronto.
Today, Mayor Ed Holder unveiled route markers for Terry’s run through London at City Hall.
Terry also remains the youngest inductee into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame, a London staple currently under renovation.
As for the annual Terry Fox Run that takes place in Sept., Ferguson said this year the event is going virtual due to COVID-19. People can sign up in teams or as individuals at terryfox.org.
“Once you’re registered you get your own personal fundraising page which you can let people know,” said Ferguson, “and they can go on and contribute to the Terry Fox Run, sponsoring you.”
He added that if you are participating in a fundraising event, even if it’s just a backyard barbecue, to share pictures online and tag Terry Fox Run London.
As we continue to face the struggle of COVID-19, Ferguson said there is a lot we can learn from Terry’s story, even after all these years.
“Terry Fox was an inspiration and a motivation for us to keep our chin up, keep going,” he said. “He realized he was a sick person at that time, he wasn’t really sure how long he’d be able to go, but he was determined he was going to make it across Canada.”
But, he added, for us, we can see a light at the end of tunnel, as medical professionals and scientists across the world work to establish a vaccine and treatment for COVID-19.
“Keep going forward, keeping trying to stay positive just like Terry Fox did,” said Ferguson.
