Service Above Self: It’s up to us to continue Terry Fox’s dream

By Kitt Brand on August 28, 2025.

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Get out your calendars. Grab your i-Phones. Save Sunday, Sept. 14, 10 a.m. for the Terry Fox Run and participate.

During his Marathon of Hope for cancer research in 1980, Terry raised $24.17 million. Since then, more than $900 million has been raised in his name. His self-challenge was to run 42 km per day on his prosthetic leg. He completed 143 days before he was forced to stop when his cancer returned.

Your challenge is a mere 3 km. Sprint, jog, shuffle, rollerblade, wheelchair, cycle, scoot, just get yourself on the move, gather some pledges and be there. You probably know someone – or sadly, many “someones” – affected by cancer. This is your chance to fund research to make these scourges no longer so pervasive. No excuses.

Terry Fox is, of course, a Canadian icon: An 18-year-old lad who lost part of a leg to bone cancer but still had the dream of running across Canada to raise awareness of the need for more dedicated cancer research.

On this 45th anniversary run, more than 600 communities and 10,000 schools in at least eight provinces will be participating in Canada. Yet his inspiration extends far beyond our borders.

This year, in more than 30 countries around the world and in multiple sites within those nations, Terry Fox Run supporters will be on the move. Just think, in Brazil, China, Croatia, England, Germany, India, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Qatar, Scotland, Singapore, Spain, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, United States, Wales, Terry’s legacy will be re-enacted.

One member of Medicine Hat’s Run organizing team actually witnessed a Terry Fox Run in southeast Asia. What a profound moment!

The Terry Fox Run in Medicine Hat has an impressive tradition involving multiple service groups. For 40 years, the Medicine Hat Kinnette Club organized the event.

The COVID pandemic saw them turn resourcefully to a “virtual” run. By 2022, challenges were daunting enough that the Rotary Club of Medicine Hat-Sunrise sprinted in to help with thrilling results.

Keith Walker, a club member and runner suggested the concept as a way to put their newly-completed trail at the college to noble use. Gloriously, a few days before the 2023 event, Terry Fox’s brother Fred, honoured the organizing committee with a trip to Medicine Hat for dinner together.

In that same year, partnering with the Rotary Club of Medicine Hat-Ignite, their efforts raised $20,000 for the Terry Fox Foundation. In 2024, the Terry Fox School Run alone raised $7,064.75, part of an overall $22,000 raised. This year, help to bring in even more.

The theme of this year’s 45th commemorative run is, “Finish it.” The wording comes from Terry himself.

“I wish people would realize that anything’s possible if you try … Even if I don’t finish, we need others to continue.”

Spoiler Alert: We are the others. All of us together. So, grab your running shoes, your leashed dog, your kids, your grandkids, your neighbour’s kids, their parents. Get ready to hit the trail for your favourite form of trekking and join this year’s Terry Fox Run at the Sunrise Rotary Trail around Medicine Hat College.

The route is welcoming, flat, gentle and will be full of friendly people. Go to http://www.terryfox.org to register and support. Do so in the name of someone you know affected by cancer. Let’s challenge each other to help “Finish it.”

Kitt Brand is a member of the Rotary Club of Medicine Hat and Rotary E-Club of Canada One. Contact: kittbrand@gmail.com