As the cyclists came to a halt in front of the Terry Fox National Historic Monument in Thunder Bay, Ont., the sound of cheers subsided into a moment of silence.
Then came the tears.
It’s been 27 years since Darrell Fox last stood beneath his older brother’s statue.
Terry Fox was 18 when he was diagnosed with osteogenic sarcoma, known as bone cancer, in 1977. His right leg was amputated just above his knee.
In April 1980, he dipped his artificial leg into the Atlantic Ocean and began his trek across the country to raise money for cancer research. However, his Marathon of Hope was cut short just outside of Thunder Bay, when his cancer spread to his lungs.
Terry Fox died in June 1981 when he was 22 years old. Now, 45 years after he began his journey across the country, his younger brother Darrell Fox and seven other cyclists are riding from Vancouver to St. John’s in his memory, with the goal of raising $1 million this summer.
To date, more than $900 million has been raised in Terry’s name through the annual Terry Fox Run.
“I thought he was invincible. I didn’t think anything could stop Terry Fox. He ran 42 kilometres every day on an artificial leg,” Darrell Fox told CBC News during Monday’s visit in the northwestern Ontario city.
“It took a long time, a decade where I was running away from the Marathon of Hope instead of accepting it and embracing it.”
The National Ride of Hope began on June 9 in Vancouver and has already raised more than $950,000. The cyclists have been visiting communities along the way to hear the stories of those touched by Terry Fox’s journey.
“I never tire of them,” Darrell Fox said. “I’ve been absorbing Terry Fox stories of those that not only have been inspired by Terry but have gone through cancer and [are] on the other side, and feel thankful because of the investment we’ve made in cancer research.”
‘I was empowered by Terry today’
Dozens of people flocked to the monument to meet Darrell Fox and his team, including Gloria Nacinovic.
She remembers when Terry Fox passed through Red Rock after she’d just finished her cancer treatment for lymphoma, and brought a poster signed by him to Monday’s gathering.
“I went up, introduced myself and said, ‘I get why you’re doing this and thank you,'” she recalled. “He was most gracious and his entourage was most gracious.”
Seeing Darrell Fox and his team in Thunder Bay “is a real testament to Terry and the people that are around Terry, and to other survivors.”
“It’s just amazing to see this marathon continue,” Nacinovic said.
Before arriving at the monument, the cyclists rode beneath an archway of pink paddles, held up by members of the Dragons of Hope.
The team of breast cancer survivors paddle to raise awareness about breast cancer and provide support to survivors.
“We call this the best little team you never want to join,” said member Robyn Czerwinski, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022.
“I was nine years old when Terry didn’t make it to Thunder Bay. I was a school child who was waiting to get on a school bus to come out to the highway, to be on the side of the road to cheer him on, and that didn’t happen — and it’s a core memory,” she shared.
Being able to meet Darrell Fox in such a special place was an honour, she said, especially as the need for cancer research continues.
Thunder Bay city councillor Dominic Pasqualino has lost two sisters to cancer. One died at age 26 to breast cancer, and another beat breast cancer but was later diagnosed with a sarcoma and died at 58.
“I have two relatives locally that are battling cancer right now, and it’s tough,” Pasqualino said. “I have two grandkids. I’d like to see them be able to be alive and say, ‘yeah, cancer is beat.'”
Addressing the crowd at the monument, Darrell Fox admitted he wasn’t sure he would be able to continue the trek beyond Thunder Bay, where his brother was forced to end his journey.
But just before Monday’s ride began, the thunderstorm that had threatened their progress disappeared.
“That was Terry’s message for us to keep going and keep strong,” Darrell Fox said. “I was empowered by Terry today I’m ready to find my way to St. John’s.”
The National Ride of Hope is planned to end on July 10 in Newfoundland and Labrador’s capital.
