A global marathon of hope

A group of soldiers and civilians will battle searing heat and dust to complete the Terry Fox Run in Kandahar, Afghanistan, on Oct. 3.

"We hold the runs early in the morning to avoid the heat, but you can never really avoid the constant clouds of dust in the air," says organizer Anne-Marie Audet.

The Afghanistan run is in honour of Canadian icon Terry Fox, who set out on his own Marathon of Hope 30 years ago. Struggling with an artificial leg and jogging with a distinctive loping step, he started in St. John's, N.L. with the aim of crossing Canada from coast to coast.  For 143 days he ran the equivalent of one marathon a day, until the spread of his cancer ended his journey just outside Thunder Bay, Ont.  Fox died nine months later.

Today, Fox's story is inspiring people around the world to hold runs in their own countries to raise money for cancer research.

The 2009 Terry Fox Run in Dubai, U.A.E."People just love Terry and love what he stands for," says Judith Fox-Alder, Fox’s sister and international director of the Terry Fox Foundation.

"They love the example that he sets. For me as a family member it’s quite overwhelming to go to another country and see how my brother inspired so many people."

Thirty-five countries already participate in the Terry Fox Run. Fox-Alder says the foundation hopes to expand that number by at least five new countries by March 2011. They are now in discussion with people in several countries who are interested in hosting a run, including Australia, Brazil, and the Czech Republic.

The Terry Fox Foundation has been expanding the run internationally since 1991. Breeda McClew, former international director for the foundation, says she started the process by writing letters to Canadian embassies and consulates, Canadian Forces bases, anti-cancer societies and other organizations around the world asking them to start runs in their communities.

"In the beginning, nobody ever came to us," she says. "So we absolutely went full out to promote Terry’s message outside Canada."

The first official international runs took place in 1992 in approximately 24 countries. Fox-Alder says the runs are making her brother’s story increasingly well-known in participating countries.

"It’s incredible," she says. "When I was in Croatia, I was told that everyone knows who Terry Fox is, and it’s true."

McClew says the story of Terry Fox is now also spread by Canadians who work or move abroad. Commonly, these people are teachers.

"They have often organized Terry Fox Runs here in Canada and then they accept teaching positions abroad and they carry Terry’s message with them," she says.

Unique events with a common goal

Fox’s story also inspires people who are native to participating countries to organize runs themselves.

People just love Terry and love what he stands for. They love the example that he sets. For me as a family member it’s quite overwhelming to go to another country and see how my brother inspired so many people. — Judith Fox-Alder

Gul Kripalani has been organizing the Terry Fox Run in Mumbai, India for 12 years. He says he is honoured to spread the story of Terry Fox because it brings solace to those who are affected by cancer.

"[Terry Fox] has given a vision to all those [living with cancer] not to lose hope," he says.

The run in Mumbai will take place on Feb. 27, 2011. Kripalani says he hopes to have about 7,000 to 10,000 participants and raise enough to beat last year’s proceeds of approximately $165,000.

Unlike other global runs, most of the Mumbai participants are school-aged children, Kripalani says. On the day of the run everyone gathers at a local stadium, they are given breakfast and are also greeted by local celebrities such as Bollywood stars or the police commissioner.

"We also bring the [children who have cancer] from the hospital ward and they mix around and the children have a great time. It’s different to the runs you have around the world, but this one, in my mind, is the best ever for those who are suffering," says Kripalani.

In Afghanistan, organizers are faced with additional challenges.

"Planning a route is also difficult," Audet writes in an email interview. "We have limited choices and have to choose the safest and most direct route, which is not easy.”

Audet says $5,000 has been raised so far this year and she is hoping to raise $10,000 in total.

"I already feel so inspired and rewarded even though the run hasn’t even started yet," she says.

Making a difference

Since the first Terry Fox Run in 1981, close to $550 CAD million has been raised globally in Fox’s name.

Thousands took to the street this year to run in the name of Terry Fox in Mumbai, India.

Proceeds from international runs go directly to cancer research in the country where the run was held. Organizations recognized by the Terry Fox Foundation and the National Cancer Institute of Canada receive funding for their own biomedical cancer research projects.

Fox-Alder says it is important for people around the world to continue raising money for cancer research as great advances have been made since Fox’s diagnosis in 1977. She says that when he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer, her brother was given a 30 per cent chance of survival. Now, people with the same type of cancer have a 90 per cent chance of survival and they don’t lose their limbs.

"Cancer touches everyone around the world," adds Audet. "It is important to share Terry’s vision of hope and continue to fight as a global community towards finding a cure."

Terry Fox Run in Syria

Tarif Arkawi and his friend Ghadir Shaar are among the 3,200 Syrians who put on their running shoes and took to the streets of Damascus last year to raise awareness for cancer research. They tell us their stories in this sound slide show.