September 17, 1980 - Terry Fox Passes Away After Inspiring the Marathon of Hope

The date in that search result is wrong on two counts. Terry Fox didn't pass away on September 17, 1980 — he died on June 28, 1981, nearly ten months later. What happened in late August 1980 was that cancer forced him to stop his Marathon of Hope outside Thunder Bay on August 31st, after 143 days and 5,373 kilometres. If you want the full story behind his remarkable journey and lasting legacy, it's all just ahead.

Key Takeaways

• Terry Fox did not pass away on September 17, 1980; he died on June 28, 1981, at age 22.
• Fox was forced to stop his Marathon of Hope near Thunder Bay on August 31, 1980, due to cancer spreading to his lungs.
• He announced the run's end at a tearful press conference on September 2, 1980, after receiving a lung cancer diagnosis.
• The Marathon of Hope covered 5,373 kilometres across six provinces over 143 days before stopping.
• Fox was re-admitted to hospital on June 19, 1981, where pneumonia and cancer progression led to his death nine days later.

Terry Fox Before the Marathon: Athlete, Amputee, and Cancer Survivor

Born July 28, 1958, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Terry Fox grew up in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, where he developed a passion for athletics that would define his life. At 18, doctors diagnosed him with osteogenic sarcoma, forcing a right leg amputation above the knee. He endured 16 months of chemotherapy, witnessing cancer's devastating toll on fellow patients, including young children.

Rather than surrendering to despair, Terry demonstrated remarkable amputation resilience. Rick Hansen invited him to join a wheelchair athletics team in summer 1977, and Terry mastered the sport within two months, competing in a national championship in Edmonton. He'd go on to win three national wheelchair basketball titles. These experiences forged his determination to channel personal suffering into meaningful action for cancer research. His commitment to improving conditions for others mirrored the broader social consciousness sparked by events like the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, which had decades earlier demonstrated how public tragedy could drive lasting reforms in workplace safety and labor laws. To prepare for his cross-Canada run, Terry trained rigorously, covering over 5,000 kilometres in the 18 months leading up to his departure. During his Marathon of Hope, Terry ran through communities across Canada, with early milestones including Gander, Newfoundland, where donations of ten and twenty dollars poured in from attendees who lined up to show their support.

How the Marathon of Hope Began in April 1980

Those years of athletic grit and hard-won resilience set the stage for something extraordinary.

On April 12, 1980, Terry Fox dipped his artificial leg into the Atlantic Ocean in a small beginnings coastal ceremony in St. John's, Newfoundland, launching the Marathon of Hope with little fanfare and minimal media attention.

After months of planning and over 5,000 kilometres of training, Terry set a bold goal: raise funds matching Canada's entire population, roughly $24–25 million.

That first day, he completed 12 miles with a police escort and a small volunteer entourage collecting donations along the way. His extraordinary run would continue for 143 days, covering 5,373 kilometres through six provinces before being forced to stop outside Thunder Bay.

Terry had been a multisport high school athlete before his 1977 cancer diagnosis led to the amputation of his right leg above the knee, making his determination to undertake such a grueling journey all the more remarkable.

Running 42 Kilometres a Day on One Leg

Each morning at 4:30 a.m., Terry laced up his prosthetic leg and ran a full marathon—42 kilometres—before most of Canada had finished breakfast. His prosthetic endurance defied every expectation. Rain, snow, heat, humidity—none of it stopped him. You'd watch him push through Ontario's sweltering summer, still maintaining his daily mileage through sheer determination.

He'd trained 18 months and covered over 5,000 kilometres before the run even started. That preparation showed. Terry averaged 42 kilometres daily across Atlantic Canada, Quebec, and Ontario, often finishing his last mile around 7 p.m. By the time cancer forced him to stop near Thunder Bay on September 1, 1980, he'd covered 5,373 kilometres in 143 days—on one leg, without excuses. His distinctive running style, a hop-step gait, was necessitated by the time his prosthetic spring required to reset between strides. Born and raised in Port Coquitlam, BC, Terry was just 21 years old when he dipped his prosthetic leg into the Atlantic Ocean and began what would become one of the most celebrated journeys in Canadian history. Much like Amelia Kerr's record-breaking 232* demonstrated that youth and readiness are not mutually exclusive, Terry's achievement at 21 proved that age is no barrier to redefining what humans are capable of.

Why Did Terry Fox Become a National Hero in Ontario?

What set him apart wasn't athletic achievement—it was meaning. He turned a physical journey into a national conversation about courage, compassion, and collective responsibility.

Canadians connected because he represented something real:

• Authenticity – His personal cancer experience made his mission impossible to dismiss
• Inclusion – People from every background found themselves in his story
• Purpose – Every dollar raised felt personal, not charitable

He ran an average of nearly a marathon a day across six provinces before cancer forced him to stop after 143 days. The Marathon of Hope ultimately raised funds that surpassed his $24 million goal in early 1981, cementing his legacy long after he could no longer run.

When Cancer Stopped the Marathon of Hope Outside Thunder Bay

August 31, 1980, marked the day cancer silenced the Marathon of Hope outside Thunder Bay, Ontario, after Terry Fox had run an extraordinary 5,373 kilometres. High cancer activity detected in his lungs forced him to stop, ending his cross-Canada run before he could reach his goal.

The stopping location sits near a road sign east of Thunder Bay, with a monument erected four kilometres west to honour the moment. Sculptor Manfred Pirwitz created the statue, which Governor General Edward Schreyer revealed on June 26, 1982.

The health impact Terry endured was severe, making it impossible to continue despite his determination. You can visit the monument today, standing on Thunder Bay's outskirts with a panoramic view, reflecting on the legacy he built across those 5,373 kilometres. The site was even chosen as a Olympic torch relay handoff location prior to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, with the leg run by cancer survivor Kailie Kernaghan-Keast.

When Terry flew out of Thunder Bay, local construction workers gathered at the airport to give him a heartfelt farewell, a moment those who were there have never forgotten.

How Terry Fox Spent His Final Months After Stopping the Run

Receiving his lung cancer diagnosis on September 2, 1980, Terry didn't retreat into silence—he held a tearful press conference that same day, announcing the run's end after 143 days and 5,373 kilometres.

From his hospital bedside, Terry continued pushing Canadians toward action through his personal reflections on cancer's reach. He'd already raised $24.17 million, but he refused to stop advocating. His final months carried three urgent messages:

• Cancer affects everyone — Terry used his own diagnosis to highlight universal risk
• Donations matter — he urged Canadians to keep supporting the Marathon of Hope
• Hope remains essential — he expressed confidence in the public's continued response

Terry rejected all offers for others to finish his run, insisting the mission belonged to him alone. His original goal of raising one dollar from every Canadian was ultimately achieved before his death.

Terry Fox's Death on June 28, 1981

After nine months of fighting, Terry's condition worsened sharply when he was re-admitted to Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster on June 19, 1981, with chest congestion. Pneumonia followed quickly, and he fell into a coma. Doctors couldn't halt the cancer's progression into his lungs.

At 4:35 a.m. PDT on June 28, 1981, Terry Fox died at age 22. Hospital records confirmed the exact timing, though medical privacy concerns later surrounded the release of specific clinical details.

Canada responded with grief. Flags lowered to half-mast nationwide — an honor typically reserved for statesmen.

Memorial controversies emerged over how best to honor him, but his legacy stood firm. Before his death, Terry had been made a Companion of the Order of Canada, recognizing his extraordinary contributions to the country. The first Terry Fox Run followed on September 13, 1981, cementing his enduring impact.

Did Terry Fox Reach His $24 Million Fundraising Goal?

Terry Fox originally set his sights on raising $1 million for cancer research, but as donations poured in, he raised the bar to $25 million—roughly one dollar for every Canadian citizen.

His fundraising strategies and public engagement drove remarkable results:

• The Marathon of Hope generated $24.17 million during the run itself—falling just $830,000 short of the $25 million goal
• Early 1981 saw cumulative donations surpass that target through the Terry Fox Foundation
• Annual Terry Fox Runs expanded internationally, reaching participants in over 30 countries

You can see how Fox's run exceeded his original $1 million goal by over 2,400 percent. His legacy didn't stop when he did—the foundation he inspired continues channeling millions toward cancer research breakthroughs worldwide. In the UK, the 2024 Terry Fox Run stands as the most successful corporate fundraising year to date, raising £120,000 for cancer research at the Institute of Cancer Research.

How the Annual Terry Fox Run Continues the Marathon of Hope

The annual Terry Fox Run, founded in 1981 by Isadore Sharp, keeps the Marathon of Hope alive decades after Fox's passing. Sharp lost his own son to cancer in 1979, driving him to contact Fox directly and establish this non-competitive charity event. You can join over 650 Canadian communities every second Sunday after Labour Day, participating in community fundraising that's raised over $950 million for 1,300+ cancer research projects.

Registration opens April 12, honoring the anniversary of Fox's original journey. The run's legacy education aspect guarantees younger generations understand Fox's 143-day, 5,373 km sacrifice. Matching gift opportunities, like PharmaChoice Canada's $100,000 match, amplify your donation's impact. Whether you run locally or internationally, you're directly continuing what Fox started in 1980. The Terry Fox School Run is scheduled for September 25, 2025, with participation from more than 10,000 schools across Canada. Today, the Terry Fox Run has grown into a truly global event, with over 9,000 locations across more than 30 countries hosting runs that unite millions of participants in the fight against cancer. To further explore facts about inspiring figures and landmark events like this one, onl.li's Fact Finder tool allows you to discover concise, categorized information across topics including science, politics, and sports.

How the Marathon of Hope Grew Into a $1 Billion Cancer Research Movement

What began as a $1 million fundraising dream evolved into one of Canada's most powerful cancer research movements. Through global fundraising efforts and research partnerships spanning decades, the Terry Fox Foundation crossed the $1 billion milestone on February 4, 2026.

Over forty-six years, your support helped fund:

• 1,300 innovative cancer research projects advancing detection and treatment
• The Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network, launched in 2019 to accelerate breakthroughs
• Millions of volunteers and partners contributing to measurable improvements in survival rates

Terry's vision transformed how Canada approaches cancer research. What started as one man running twenty-three miles daily now drives life-saving discoveries worldwide. The Terry Fox Research Institute connects more than 202 cancer hospitals, research centres, universities, and funding agencies nationally.

Every donation, run, and partnership keeps that original dream alive and moving forward.