I had a moment today that was so dark I felt physically cold to the touch. I found myself wondering what life would look like if Terry Fox had never run the Marathon of Hope. Yet another relative has been diagnosed with cancer, and I’m beside myself. Today is the anniversary of Terry’s run coming to an end. With every end is a beginning, just like back-to-school and harvest time. September can be cruel.
Everyone has those dark moments, and in mine, I find hope and strength in thinking about Terry’s journey. Ask practically any Canadian about Terry, and everyone will cling to a specific memory; if you’re in your golden years, he may have run by you. If you’re younger, it may be your first run. As a team captain of almost 15 years, I have a few favourite memories. But this year, new unearthed footage is being unveiled, right in time for TIFF, and I couldn’t be more excited to see more of Terry.
Run Terry Run Reveals Iconic Moments in the Marathon of Hope
Using nearly 100 reels of recently recovered archival footage, the movie offers an intimate look at Terry Fox’s historic 1980 Marathon of Hope. Canadian director Sean Menard found and restored reels of film to 4K quality, with voiceover firsthand accounts from early supporters like Darryl Sittler, his brother Darrell Fox and more.
Run Terry Run also features commentary from Terry’s friend and van driver Doug Alward and Fox himself as the 21-year-old set out to run across Canada and raise money for cancer research after losing his leg to osteogenic sarcoma. The run now takes place internationally and has recently surpassed $1 billion dollars, all towards cancer research.
More Than Just a Charity- But a Global Initiative for Cancer Research
This is not the first movie or documentary on Terry’s short life. There are two full-length scripted features and another two documentaries, including one by NBA all-star Steve Nash. But this new film is unlike anything previously seen, giving audiences access to Terry and the Marathon of Hope in a whole new light.
The Iconic Statue Near The Start of The Marathon of Hope, St. John’s, Newfoundland
The film originally debuted at Roy Thompson Hall last year. Run Terry Run premieres at TIFF on Saturday, September 19, the same day as the 46th annual Terry Fox Run, before hitting theatres Oct. 9, 2026. This year’s debut at TIFF features two showings open to the public on the 19th and 20th of September. Check ticket availability at TIFF.net.
Join the Terry Fox Run today.