Today marks 46 years since Terry Fox was forced to bring his Marathon of Hope to an end, but his legacy continues to have an impact across Canada to this day.
On September 1, 1980, Fox ended his cross-country fundraising run east of Thunder Bay after running 5,373 kilometres over 143 days, raising approximately $1.7 million for cancer research.
According to the Terry Fox Foundation, the campaign grew and donations surged in the following months, reaching $24.17 million by February 1, 1981.
In February 2026, the Terry Fox Foundation announced it had surpassed $1 billion raised for cancer research across Canada.
Brooke Verhaaff, the foundation’s director of marketing and communications, said Muskoka has played a significant role in fundraising efforts, raising more than $2.8 million since the run’s inception.
“Muskoka has a long history of participating and contributing to cancer research,” she said. “The Terry Fox Run remains a powerful expression of hope and collective action. Every contribution builds on Terry’s determination and helps move research closer to the breakthroughs people facing cancer need.”
The 2026 Terry Fox Runs in Huntsville and Bracebridge will take place on September 20.
To sign up for the Huntsville run, click here.
To sign up for the Bracebridge run, click here.
