Take part in the 41st annual Terry Fox Run this Sunday

This Sunday, September 19, Canadians from coast to coast will lace up their shoes and head out on their annual walk or run in support of the Terry Fox Foundation. Like in 2020, this year’s event will not be done in large groups due to COVID-19, giving supporters the opportunity to participate in the virtual version, “Terry Fox Run. One Day. Your Way.”

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Last year was the 40th anniversary of Terry’s run, but the pandemic sidelined any plans for a nationwide celebration. Despite the challenges, Terry’s older brother, Fred Fox, says the virtual event was a huge success. “Canadians seemed to respond to the challenge,” he said. “They used Terry as an example and stuck with it.”

This year’s virtual event is poised to be even bigger than last and the newly-designed website and the brand new Terry Fox mobile fundraising app have made it even easier for supporters to sign up and start raising money to support cancer research. New this year, every participant who signs up on the website receives a personalized QR code to make it easier to garner support from friends and family. Canadians can also text “Terry” to 45678 with options to give $5, $10 or $25, and there are “tap to donate” stations across the country that allow users to give $5, $10 or $20, with payments made directly to The Terry Fox Foundation.

The last year-and-a-half has been challenging for individuals, health care workers and healthcare institutions, but as Fox said to us, “cancer hasn’t taken a break.” For this reason, raising funds for cancer research and patient care is even more important than ever before.

“Terry had to stop his Marathon of Hope 41 years ago when his cancer returned,” says Fox. “He asked Canadians to keep on fundraising for cancer research without him so that his dream of finding a cure would one day be realized — and that is exactly what we need to do now.”

All funds raised through Sunday’s virtual run will fund cancer research, including a new project called the Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network, a collaboration of Canada’s best cancer researchers to accelerate precision medicine by sharing knowledge and resources and building a new, accessible cancer data platform to deliver the best possible outcome for each cancer patient, no matter where they live.

Terry has been a profound inspiration to millions of Canadians across the country, and on the heals of the Paralympics, his legacy is evidenced by the success of our Canadian athletes, many of whom who’ve viewed him as a hero throughout their own athletic journeys. “What Terry started in 1980 has had such a huge impact on cancer research and the lives of cancer patients,” says Fox, “and it’s our goal to continue his legacy.”

RELATED: Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope turns 40

To sign up for Sunday’s run, donate to the Foundation or learn more about Terry’s story, head over to the website, terryfox.org/run, and don’t forget to grab your friends and family and head out for a run or walk this Sunday in memory of Terry’s journey 41 years ago.