Students nationwide run in memory of Terry Fox

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Students nationwide run in memory of Terry Fox

CTV.ca News Staff

( ]6 [3 d- F% b! z9 W+ g* ]" u7 s- ?They weren't alive when Terry Fox embarked on his historic journey 25 years ago, but millions of Canadian children are commemorating his achievements today.
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2 z4 V0 L# S, I2 ?/ C4 EYoung students nationwide are taking part in a 10-kilometre run to mark the anniversary of Fox's Marathon of Hope, a trek that raised money for cancer research.

( S' z9 ]% Q; Y4 G8 Q7 ^( {3 SSome 10,000 schools, and 3.3 million children, are participating in the Terry Fox National School Run. The money they raise will also go to cancer research.

" U  d! J% r! X0 z3 L' l* PNo doubt, the children's parents remember Fox, who started his run by dipping his artificial leg in the Atlantic Ocean in April, 1980.
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9 X+ k. X' }6 [/ ?) V1 d6 b. IFox, who had lost a leg to cancer, planned to run to the Pacific Ocean.
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5 Q; K5 E0 R" r2 m3 {$ U: gHe travelled at a grueling pace, covering an average of 42 km a day. But he was forced to abandon his journey when cancer spread to his lungs.
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On September 1, 1980, he ended his run near Thunder Bay, Ont., having covered 5,565 km over 143 straight days.

The cancer had spread to his lungs, and Fox died four months later at the age of 22.

1 v  \0 g; G! F* q. Z. {) T2 qFor more than two decades, Canadians have commemorated his journey by taking part in an annual run for cancer research.

This year's national Terry Fox run is scheduled for Sunday Sept. 18, when more than four million Canadians will raise money by running, walking or wheeling.

0 Y/ s/ [8 m. }1 W) iThe run will also take place in 50 other countries.

"We're so proud of Canadians and people worldwide who are keeping Terry's dream alive," Terry's mother, Betty Fox, told the Victoria Times Colonist as kids across Canada laced up their shoes.

/ }3 o, z: s% n' K* L1 O" f, T( b"Without them, there wouldn't be this run still. It's just so wonderful that all this money is being raised and helping so many people live longer lives today."

Betty and her husband, Rolly, were in the B.C. legislature on Thursday when Premier Gordon Campbell declared Sept. 18, 2005 as Terry Fox Day in the province, which was where Terry lived.

; H; |" r6 g' w1 CTo date, The Terry Fox Foundation has raised $360 million for cancer research, well beyond the $1 million Terry Fox hoped to raise on his trek.