"Even if I don't finish, we need others to continue. It's got to keep going without me."
More than 30 years after Terry Fox urged Canadians to continue on with his dream of supporting cancer research, communities all over the world will hold events in honour of Fox while raising money for cancer research.
In Prince Rupert, Northern Savings Credit Union has helped to keep Fox's ambitions of finding a cure for cancer alive by holding the annual Terry Fox Run for nearly two decades.
"Terry is a national icon ... he gave so much, and Northern Savings Credit Union wants to give back by carrying on Terry's dream," Heidi Harris, who has organized the event for the last number of years,
said.
This year's theme is "Run with Terry" Working Together to Outrun Cancer, and will take place on Sunday, Sept. 15. Registration for the event will begin at noon at the credit union, with the walk, run, wheel or ride taking place at 1 p.m.
Participants will walk from Northern Savings to up through 4th Avenue East, down the 6th Avenue East bridge, then through Cow Bay, either turning back onto 3rd Avenue East, or continue on to 1st Avenue East or through Cow Bay Road to the Waterfront and back to the credit union.
Following the walk there will be refreshments, a barbecue food for participants and door prizes.
Harris wants to remind Rupertites that Jim Terrion, an avid Terry Fox Run fundraiser is back in the community. Terrion hopes to bring his fundraising total to $582,000 by Sept. 15, collecting more than $15,000 since arriving in Prince Rupert a few weeks ago. Terrion begin his efforts back in 1991.
"I wanted to support the Terry Fox Run, [and keep Terry's dreams alive]," he said.
"I will keep the work up."
Terrion is planning to travel to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2015 to take part in the Terry Fox Run that community holds.
In the coming days, Prince Rupert students will also be participating in walking and running events in Fox's memory, an annual event schools across Canada take part in.
"It's really great to see the kids get involved ... it's nice to see Terry's legacy being carried on in the schools," Harris said.
Fox's right leg had to be amputated 15 centimetres above the knee in 1977 after he discovered he had a malignant tumour. The evening prior to his amputation, Fox read an article about an amputee runner that sparked an idea that evolved into Fox's Marathon of Hope.
On April 12, 1980, Fox dipped his artificial leg into the Atlantic Ocean, and begin his journey. One hundred and forty-three days and 5,373 kilometres later, Fox was forced to end the marathon outside of Thunder Bay, Ontario because his primary cancer had spread to his lungs.
Fox passed away on June 28, 1981.
People can participate in Prince Rupert's Terry Fox Run by donation, and can choose to fundraise additional money and pick up a pledge form prior to the walk at Northern Savings.