Star-Studded Terry Fox TV Special Cancer Fundraiser

By Karen Bliss

A one-hour CBC TV and online special, Terry Fox: The Power of One, will air on Monday, Aug. 9, featuring an array of noted Canadians such as Sidney Crosby, Catherine O’Hara, Darryl Sittler, and Prime Minister Trudeau, plus performances from Alessia Cara, Tom Cochrane and William Prince.  Members of Fox’s family will also share personal memories.

The show, produced by Insight, will raise money for innovative cancer research, including Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network, an initiative led by The Terry Fox Research Institute and The Terry Fox Foundation that unites Canadian cancer centres to accelerate the implementation of precision medicine (also called personal medicine), which tests a person’s DNA to determine more specialized treatment or risk.

As a young man, Fox, a champion athlete whose right leg was amputated in 1977 after a diagnosis of osteosarcoma (bone cancer), embarked on The Marathon of Hope in 1980 to raise awareness and money for cancer research.  His journey ended after 143 days and 5,373 kilometres when the cancer spread. He died nine months later at age 22.

The first Marathon of Hope in his memory was held in 1981, and, to date, has reportedly raised close to $850 million. Events have also been held in more than 60 countries.

– Continue reading this feature on the Samaritanmagwebsite.