A little more than 37 years after cancer forced him to end his run, Terry Fox has become an icon to generations inspired by selfless determination and desire to help others.
Fox completed more than 5,000 kilometres of his cross-Canada run before it came to an end near Thunder Bay on Sept. 1, 1980. While he would die less than a year later at age 22, more than $750 million has been raised since in his name for cancer research.
For Melanie-Rose Frappier, a volunteer for Sunday's Terry Fox Run in Sudbury at the Bell Park amphitheatre, Fox is a personal hero.
"I got involved because Terry Fox has always been one of my idols, especially to see the strength that he had, the will he had to help others," Frappier said Sunday. "I'm here just following his dream, and trying to continue what he started."
About 400 people took part in Sunday's run, including Mayor Brian Bigger and Police Chief Paul Pedersen. Organizers were still counting up the contributions as of Sunday afternoon.
But for young people like Frappier, they've been hearing about Fox since grade school.
"It's something we grew up with," agreed Ashley Lavigne, another volunteer.
Lavigne said she remembers watching movies about Fox in history class.
"I think it's awesome to see his goals and how he really committed to something and made a huge difference just as one person,” she said. “We often think that we don't have that much of an impact. Someone like Terry, when we look at the money he's raised for cancer research, it's just incredible."
"I remember from a young age we did the Terry Fox run every year in my school,” said Frappier. “It's a tradition for Sudbury and our country."
Longtime volunteer Frances Summerhill said she was working in Toronto when Fox came to city hall in 1980.
"I remember that day because it was one of my biggest regrets was not going to see him,” Summerhill said. “I was at work, it was only a 10-minute walk and it was a hot day, I was busy, and I thought it would be too crowded, Oh my gosh, if I could change that, I would in a heartbeat."
Frappier found out this year that Fox was Metis, like her, making the connection even stronger.
"For me, he's an inspiration,” she said. “I'm also Metis. That's an added bonus, because he represents Indigenous culture, and the pride in Indigenous culture.
"To me, it was mostly he was someone who had not had the best of luck in his life, but decided to turn it around and help others, instead of viewing it in a negative way. He turned it into a positive. That's what I like."
While Fox is univerally loved, the cancer that took him is something everyone has to deal with at some point in their lives. Frappier said that's why people keep coming out, year after year.
"What draws them is the need to help others,” she said. “As we said today, cancer touches everyone. We've all been touched by cancer. So we're here to support ourselves, our family members and our community."
