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TO MAINTAIN THE VISION AND PRINCIPLES OF TERRY FOX WHILE RAISING MONEY FOR CANCER RESEARCH THROUGH THE ANNUAL TERRY FOX RUN, MEMORIAM DONATIONS AND PLANNED GIFTS
Terry Fox was diagnosed with osteogenic sarcoma (bone cancer) in his right leg in 1977 and had his leg amputated 15 cm (six inches) above the knee. While in hospital, Terry was so overcome by the suffering of other cancer patients that he decided to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research. He called his journey the Marathon of Hope.
Terry's Marathon of Hope took place in 1980 with the simple objective of informing Canadians of the importance of finding a cure for cancer. With fierce determination, he ran an average of 42 kilometres (26 miles) every day for 143 days. Terry was forced to stop his run on September 1, 1980 when the cancer spread to his lungs.
By February 1, 1981, Terry's dream of raising $1 for every Canadian was realized - the Terry Fox Marathon of Hope fund totalled $24.17 million. Terry died in June, 1981.
On May 26, 1988, The Terry Fox Run became a Trust, independent from the Canadian Cancer Society, and received tax-exempt charitable registration as a public foundation. The annual event continues to be known as The Terry Fox Run; the structural organization is known as The Terry Fox Foundation.
The Terry Fox Foundation raises funds for use in cancer research primarily through the annual Terry Fox Run. The National Cancer Institute of Canada (NCIC) is the sole beneficiary of the funds raised in Canada for discovery research - all monies raised outside Canada must be distributed to (a) an institute approved by the Foundation and its advisors or (b) remitted to Canada. The Terry Fox Research Institute (TFRI) receives the remainder of the funds. TFRI is an exciting new initiative whose goal is to translate rapidly today's best science into better cancer treatment and diagnosis for all Canadians. The Institute will bring scientists and clinicians together across the country into a functionally integrated, geographically dispersed Institute with nodes in several provinces.
The Foundation recognizes the duality of its mandate. Not only does it raise money for research, but it also continues to share the story of Terry Fox. The Terry Fox Foundation strives to maintain the heroic effort and integrity that Terry embodied.
It is a grassroots organization that does not allow commercialization of the Terry Fox Run.
TO DATE, OVER $400 MILLION HAS BEEN RAISED WORLDWIDE FOR CANCER RESEARCH IN TERRY'S NAME.
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