The unveiling of a fresh documentary on Terry Fox, showcasing previously unseen footage, occurred today, a month in advance of its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Titled “Run Terry Run,” the documentary delves into the 1980 Marathon of Hope undertaken by the British Columbia athlete and cancer research advocate, utilizing nearly 100 reels of recently recovered archival material.
The trailer includes conversations and insights from key figures such as van driver and friend Doug Alward, Terry Fox’s younger brother Darrell Fox, and Terry Fox himself as he embarked on his ambitious journey to run across Canada to raise funds for cancer research following a leg amputation due to osteogenic sarcoma. In the trailer, Fox expresses his thoughts on completing the marathon in Vancouver, highlighting his dedication to the cause.
Toronto-based director Sean Menard obtained the raw footage from filmmaker John Simpson, who documented Fox’s run with multiple camera operators from the East Coast. Menard’s quest for original documentation was fueled by the limited availability of high-quality footage on Fox’s remarkable feat. With the assistance of the Terry Fox Foundation, he located the footage in a Toronto storage unit near his residence, subsequently restoring it to 4K quality for the documentary.
The documentary, which premiered at Toronto’s Roy Thomson Hall last year, features no traditional interviews but instead incorporates voiceovers from key individuals like Alward, Darrell Fox, Leslie Scrivener (the first journalist to cover the Marathon of Hope), and Darryl Sittler (the former captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs who joined Terry on part of his run).
Terry Fox initiated his marathon on April 12, 1980, with the goal of running from St. John’s to Victoria. Despite having to halt his journey near Thunder Bay, Ontario, due to the spread of cancer to his lungs, Fox’s efforts raised over $24 million at the time, equivalent to $1 per Canadian. Earlier this year, the Terry Fox Foundation surpassed $1 billion in funds raised for cancer research.
Numerous documentaries have previously highlighted Fox’s story, and his legacy was further honored when the Bank of Canada announced his image would appear on the country’s upcoming $5 banknote in 2024.
Menard emphasized that his documentary captures the transformation of a 21-year-old Fox, from an uncertain runner with a grand vision to a young man navigating the global limelight while testing his boundaries. The film features an original score by U.S. composer Tom Caffey, known for his work on the Michael Jordan Netflix series “The Last Dance.”
“Run Terry Run” is set to premiere at TIFF on September 19, just before the 46th annual Terry Fox Run, with a theatrical release scheduled for October 9, 2026.