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Marathon of Hope
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Terry Fox, age 22, smiling and looking to the side while wearing a Marathon of Hope T-shirt, seated in front of a wooden wall. Terry Fox runs along a road on his prosthetic right leg during the Marathon of Hope in 1980, with a support vehicle and cars behind him.
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Marathon of Hope

fundraising event
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Quick Summary

Terry Fox, age 22, smiling and looking to the side while wearing a Marathon of Hope T-shirt, seated in front of a wooden wall.
Terry Fox, 1980 Terry Fox during his charity run across Canada, 1980.

The Marathon of Hope was a fundraising event initiated by Terry Fox, a Canadian activist who lost a leg to cancer. His goal was to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research. Starting in Newfoundland in April 1980, Fox ran approximately 30 miles a day. Although he initially received little attention, his journey gained momentum and support. By September 1980, he had covered 3,339 miles and raised about $1.7 million. However, chest pains forced him to stop near Thunder Bay, Ontario, as the cancer had spread to his lungs. Despite his passing in June 1981, the Marathon of Hope ultimately surpassed its $24 million goal, and annual Terry Fox Runs continue to raise funds for cancer research worldwide.1

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2 Britannica Sources
  1. Terry Fox
  2. Spyridon Louis: The First Olympic Hero

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