Fox’s siblings to hike namesake mountain
Family and supporters of famed Canadian will make 18-kilometre journey this weekend
It has been 34 years since Terry Fox’s family stood on the summit of a mountain named in his honour. Three months after Terry succumbed to cancer on June 28, 1981 his parents and his three siblings flew by helicopter, with then B.C. premier Bill Bennett, to the newly named Mount Terry Fox.
“It was a very sombre occasion,” said his brother Darrell, now 53.
On the windswept peak in the Selwyn Range of the Canadian Rockies, about 10 kilometres north of Valemount, Betty and Rolly Fox, with their three children, Darrell, Fred and Judy, laid a plaque in honour of their son and brother.
Darrell said although the family has never forgotten that experience they believe many others are not aware of Mount Terry Fox.
This Sunday, to commemorate the 35th anniversary of Terry’s Marathon of Hope, the family plans to return to the mountain. Betty died in 2011 and Rolly, 80, is too old to make the trek, but Terry’s siblings plan to hike to the summit along with two of his nieces — Kerstin and Jessie, who were born after their uncle became a national hero.
The Marathon of Hope was an effort by Terry, who had already lost a leg to cancer, to run across Canada from St. John’s, Newfoundland to Victoria, B.C. to raise money for cancer research. But his journey ended after 143 days and 5,373 km, when cancer spread to his lungs.
“My moments hiking to the summit will be spent thinking of Terry,” said Darrell.
“We aren’t getting any younger and 18 kilometres to the top and back isn’t for the faint of heart. But neither is running 42 kilometres a day on one leg. I believe the message Terry gave us is anything is possible.”
Besides hiking to the mountain’s summit and back, Darrell also plans to bike 350 km from Kamloops to Valemount, where the hike will begin.
“Terry was all about effort. He never completed the Marathon of Hope but he continues to make a difference.”
He said Terry’s dream was for every Canadian to donate $1 towards cancer research. The hope this year, on the 35th anniversary, is that the dream will be achieved with 35 million Canadians making the $1 dollar pledge. The annual Terry Fox run happens on Sept. 20.
Darrell, who is four years younger than Terry, said his brother continues to have a huge impact on his life.
“I don’t know what it would be like to not be Terry Fox’s brother. Every day I live in this world I think of Terry. I never take it for granted. I feel truly blessed to experience his legacy. It’s a great honour.”
Donations to support the Fox family and the nearly 50 supporters joining them on their hike can be made online at www.terryfox.org/Mt Terry Fox Trek.html. Funds raised by the Terry Fox Foundation support research undertaken by the Terry Fox Research Institute, which to date has raised more than $700 million.
“Terry was all about effort. He never completed the Marathon of Hope but he continues to make a difference. DARRELL FOX, BROTHER OF TERRY FOX