The story of Terry Fox had sort of slipped Ian Scott’s mind.
A young runner himself, Scott was busy preparing for marathons last year. Then one day he watched Steve Nash’s documentary Into the Wind and it all came back to him.
“It just reminded me of what a great story the Terry Fox Marathon of Hope was,” Scott said Sunday afternoon while warming up before the Terry Fox Run.
It was one of the reasons he wanted to join around 600 people as they ran the five kilometre loup around Boulevard Lake. Scott said it’s important to remember that on top of running a marathon every day, Fox had to deal with speaking engagements and media the whole time.
“All of the attention that went along with it and he handled it like such a pro,” Scott said.
“When I think about who Canada has as heroes I think Terry Fox to me is a personal hero of mine but also to Canadians across the country.”
Another reason to run is that everyone is touched by cancer at some point Scott said.
Organizer Don Morrison said he thinks that’s one of the reasons the international event is so popular.
“It’s about raising money but also about raising the awareness of cancer and cancer research,” he said.
Runs are held all over the world in memory of Fox. Morrison said one man with one leg running a marathon-a-day certainly inspires people.
“I think that courage that took and his commitment is what really motivates people,” he said.
The event raises around $16,000 every year locally for the Terry Fox Foundation.
