Cyclists Embark from Vancouver to Commemorate 45 Years of the Marathon of Hope

More than forty years after Terry Fox’s legendary Marathon of Hope inspired millions, his brother Darrell Fox is embarking on a cross-Canada journey of his own. On Monday morning, a group of eight cyclists led by Darrell will set out from Terry Fox Plaza in downtown Vancouver. Their mission: pedal nearly 220 kilometres each day for the next month, ultimately reaching St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, on July 10—all in the name of cancer awareness and research.

Reflecting on the challenge ahead, Darrell Fox, now 63, acknowledged the physical and emotional undertaking involved. “I think I can, I think I can, I think I can,” he remarked with a laugh, admitting age has brought new challenges. “I’m not a spring chicken anymore. Youth is not an ally. But I was in a stinky Ford van in 1980 as a third member of the Marathon of Hope, and I witnessed Terry run a marathon every day on an artificial leg for 93 days.”

“I think Terry is going to be within me every pedal stroke, and I'm going to give it my all to find my way to St. John’s.”

Darrell credits his late brother as a constant source of inspiration. “Every day. I would have to say for the first few years after Terry passed, I ran away from his legacy because it was difficult dealing with a loss, but since that time, I embrace it. I have this incredible gift of witnessing his legacy in action every day of my life, and I cannot get enough of it, even though we’re 45 years removed from the Marathon of Hope. I’m still learning and being inspired by Terry’s example of giving everything he can for a cause.”

He also points out that while Terry Fox is considered a Canadian icon, his true nature was one of humility. “We don’t like Terry to be placed on a pedestal, he wouldn’t be comfortable being up there. He thought he was very average, and that’s what I try to share about Terry, he was just an average individual with incredible determination, and it’s through hard work and drive that he was successful.”

The pain of losing his brother remains present for Darrell, even decades later. “Loss, and I know this 44 years after Terry passed, that it never goes away. I’m dealing with that every day, but I also recognize that talking about Terry, explaining what he went through, and what he attempted to accomplish is very much part of the healing process,” he explained. “It’ll always be emotional, but I know with the efforts of so many Terry Fox’ers across the country, we are getting there in terms of finding the answers to cancer, and that’s what helps me deal with the difficult times that I have every day.”

Part of what helps Darrell cope is the sense of community he encounters on the journey. “They want to share how they lost a loved one or they know someone battling cancer right now, and it helps for me, and perhaps for them, to share that with because we both know what it’s like when we’re having those conversations.”

This year’s ride has set an ambitious goal: raise at least $1 million for cancer research and awareness. Darrell shared a memory of Terry being asked what he hoped would come from the outpouring of support during the original Marathon of Hope. “Terry simply said, ‘More money.’ So, it’s all about raising money.”

Groundbreaking advances in cancer research underline the importance of the cause. “People are living longer with cancer. They’re surviving cancer. Terry’s form of cancer, if he was diagnosed today, there’s a good chance he would live and would never have had his leg amputated,” Darrell noted. “We want to ensure we’re treating the right person with the right treatment at the right time. It’s called personalized medicine, and that is the future, and outcomes are going to improve based on the investment we’ll be making over the next few years.”

As the group traverses the breadth of Canada, Darrell hopes Canadians will continue their longstanding support for the Terry Fox legacy. “He is iconic, but it’s unbelievable how time has not faded the way people respond to this story. It could be last week that Terry was running the way people react to that, and I think that’s because I’m not alone.”

Information about Darrell Fox and the National Ride of Hope can be found here.