Terry Fox Tour of Hope to visit Sudbury July 31

By JUDI KOSKI

Sudburians will have the chance to meet the Terry Fox family and see a piece of history that has been taken on the road again. A fundraiser family barbecue will be held at the Grace Hartman Amphitheatre in Bell Park July 31.

In 1980, Terry Fox began his historic Marathon of Hope. Following him every kilometre of his inspirational journey was a 1980 Ford Econoline van. In May the newly restored van was unveiled and the Terry Fox Foundation announced that the van would be going on a Canadian Tour - the 2008 Tour of Hope.

The Fox family and the Terry Fox Foundation continue to raise awareness for the need to fund research into the various cancers that affect millions of people. The Foundation remains true to Terry's wishes by directing all funds raised in his name to cancer research. The National Cancer Institute of Canada (NCIC) is the beneficiary of the donations.

The Fox family recently located and repurchased the van that Terry, his friend Doug Alward and his brother, Darrell, used to mark the miles and support the run in that summer of 1980. The Ford Motor Company restored the van to its original condition. They have also created a traveling museum of memories and artifacts from the run and Terry's life, to accompany the van across the country. ScotiaMcLeod has been invited by the Fox family to help them host events across across Canada. The tour began in St. John's, Newfoundland on May 25th and will finish in Victoria, British Columbia in mid-September, coinciding with annual Terry Fox fundraising events.