The 39th annual Terry Fox Run had 20-30 people take part in Prince Albert at the Alfred Jenkins Field House. (Ian Gustafson/paNOW Staff)

By Michael Joel-Hansen

Major milestone

Local organizer reflects on Terry Fox anniversary

Apr 13, 2020 | 5:13 PM

It has been 40 years since Terry Fox set off on his Marathon of Hope.

While Fox was not able to finish his run, Canadians have carried on his legacy by putting on annual runs to raise money for cancer research.

Danielle Poisson, chairperson of the Terry Fox Run Prince Albert committee credits Fox’s story for helping to keep the event going.

“Terry’s story is bringing people together and I think during this hard time right now remembering what one person could do, remembering what we all could do together is a lot more impactful,” she said.

Poisson said Fox’s story is inspirational to many on a personal level. She explained it is also a special story that reaches younger people who were not alive when Fox set out on his run.

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Looking forward to this year’s event, Poisson said organizers are going to be looking at possible alternatives in the event the restrictions to protect against COVID-19 are still in place in the fall.

“Even a virtual type thing would be interesting in how creative we could get,” she said.

Fox’s brother Darrell, who joined his brother for part of the run said what his brother did and the message he was trying to get across stays with him to this day.

“Terry’s message is with me every day, that anything is possible if you try and one person can make a difference,” he said.

Since Fox’s death, more than $750 million has been raised for cancer research through the annual Terry Fox Run, according to the research institute that bears his name.

To mark the 40^th anniversary of the run, Darrell has his own plans for how he is going to mark the occasion.

“I plan on going out and riding 40 (kilometres) to recognize the 40th anniversary,” he said.

With files from Nick Wells and The Canadian Press.

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MichaelJoel.Hansen@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @mjhskcdn