Terry Fox Run

The Terry Fox Run in Ontario, Canada (2006)

The Terry Fox Run is an annual non-competitive charity event held in numerous regions around the world in commemoration of Canadian cancer activist Terry Fox, and his Marathon of Hope, and to raise money for cancer research.

The event was founded in 1981 by Isadore Sharp, who contacted Terry in hospital by telegram and expressed his wishes to hold an annual run in Terry's name to raise funds for cancer research. Sharp himself had lost a son to cancer in 1979. The event is held every year on the second Sunday following Labour Day. Since its inception, it has raised via the 'Terry Fox Foundation' over $650 million (CAD).^[1] The run itself is informal which means that the distance often varies, usually between 5 and 15 kilometres; participation is considered to be more important than completing the set distance. There are also runs set up by schools of every level, often with shorter distances than the "official" ones.

Unlike other major fund raising events, the Terry Fox Run has no corporate sponsorship. This is in accordance with Terry Fox's original wishes of not seeking fame or fortune from his endeavour. During his cross-Canada run, he turned down every endorsement he was offered (including from major multinationals such as McDonald's), as he felt that it would detract from his goal of creating public awareness. The Terry Fox Runs have no advertisements on any race related materials (such as T-shirts, banners, etc.).

History

Terry Fox

The Terry Fox Foundation ^[2] was founded in 1988 after it separated from the Canadian Cancer Society. Since its inception, The Terry Fox Foundation has raised over $650 million ^[1] for cancer research. Currently, Terry Fox Runs take place every year with many participants from all over the world. The Run is a volunteer led, all-inclusive, non-competitive event with no corporate sponsorship, incentives or fundraising minimums. Terry laid out these wishes before his death in 1981.

In 2007 The Terry Fox Foundation created the Terry Fox Research Institute ^[3] to conduct translational research to significantly improve outcomes for cancer patients. In the last fiscal year (ending March 31, 2013), The Terry Fox Foundation directed $27.7 million to its cancer research programs.^[4]

The Terry Fox Foundation has expanded beyond the traditional Run as well, by holding various other events. These events include National School Run Day,^[5] where schools across hold a Run to commemorate Terry and raise funds, and The Great Canadian Hair "Do,"^[6] which is a fundraising event that can take place at any time of the year. Participants are able to make the event as creative as they want— shave their heads, dye their hair a wacky colour, include a manly leg wax, and recruit friends to shave their heads as well.

The Terry Fox Foundation is an industry leader in donating 84-cents-per-dollar raised directly to cancer research.^[7]

International runs

The Terry Fox Run in Italy (2007)

North America

• Canada - First run: September 13, 1981 at 760 run sites across Canada
• Cuba - First run: 1998. 2005 at over 3,600 run sites across the country, totalling 1.9 million Cubans. 2006 reached highest level of approximately 2.6 million participants. 17 March 2007 10th Anniversary run at 4652 sites, totalling 2.267 million participants.
• United States

South America

• Venezuela

Europe

• Belgium
• Croatia (first run in 2000^[8][9])
• Czech Republic
• Hungary - held from 1999 to 2005
• Ireland
• Italy
• Netherlands
• Poland - First run: 2006 ^[10]
• Portugal - First run: 1994 ^[11]
• Romania
• Turkey
• United Kingdom

Middle East

• Iraq
• Kuwait
• Lebanon
• Oman - First Run: 2008 ^[12]
• Saudi Arabia
• Syria - First Run: 1991, Most Recent Run: 2010 (Stopped because of Syrian Civil War which started in early 2011)
• United Arab Emirates
• Qatar

Asia Pacific

• Australia - First run: September 1988 in Brisbane (legacy from Expo '88) raising $22 000 (AUD)
• Bangladesh
• China - First run: 1998
• India
• Japan
• Korea
• Malaysia - First run: early 1990s in Kuala Lumpur ^[13][14]
• Pakistan
• Philippines - First run: 2001 in Cebu City^[15]
• Singapore
• Taiwan - First run: 2001 in Taipei City
• Thailand - First run: 1995 in Bangkok^[16]

A happy moment at the TFR 2014 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (2014)

The organizing committee of TFR 2014 in Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam

• Vietnam - First run: 1996 in Ho Chi Minh City and run annually until 2014. In 2014, the Terry Fox Run in Ho Chi Minh City had an estimated 16,500 participants and the organization committee includes the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam.^[17]

Africa

• Kenya
• South Africa
• Zimbabwe

See also

• Pan-Mass Challenge, the largest charity athletic event in the USA to fund cancer research
• Relay for Life
• The Ride to Conquer Cancer

References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Mission Statement and History". The Terry Fox Foundation. 
2. ↑ "A single dream, A world of hope". The Terry Fox Foundation. 
3. ↑ "Terry Fox Research Institute - Home". Terry Fox Research Institute. 
4. ↑ "Terry Fox Foundation Research". The Terry Fox Foundation. 
5. ↑ "National School Run Day". The Terry Fox Foundation. 
6. ↑ "Terry Fox Works". The Terry Fox Foundation. 
7. ↑ "What Sets Us Apart". The Terry Fox Foundation. 
8. ↑ ""Terry Fox Run" održat će se 17. rujna na Jarunu". PLIVA (in Croatian). 
9. ↑ Jelavić, Boris (September 16, 2006). "Terry Fox Run maraton na Jarunu". StudentNet (in Croatian). 
10. ↑ tvn.pl
11. ↑ Portugal :: Terry Fox Run
12. ↑ "Carrying on the legacy of Terry Fox". TAISM. 
13. ↑ "Terry Fox Run Kuala Lumpur". Archived from the original on October 13, 2007. 
14. ↑ "Terry Fox Run KL". 
15. ↑ "Terry Fox Run kicks off today". The Freeman. October 8, 2005. Retrieved April 12, 2012. 
16. ↑ "Bangkok's Eleventh Annual Terry Fox Run for Cancer Research to be held 30 October 2005". Retrieved September 14, 2011. 
17. ↑ "18th Annual Terry Fox Run 2014 In HCMC". Archived from the original on November 28, 2014. 

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Terry Fox Run.

• Official site
• Terry Fox Run in Cuba Photos