Terry Fox’s brother and ‘Run Terry Run’ director on the Marathon of Hope details

The Story

Terry Fox’s brother, Darrell Fox, and the director of the documentary Run Terry Run, Sean Menard, spoke about the day-to-day realities behind Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope in the lead-up to the film’s general release.

Fox set out on his Marathon of Hope on April 12, 1980, aiming to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research, after losing his right leg to cancer as a teenager. He was supported throughout the journey by a small team, including best friend Doug Alward, who drove the support van, and Darrell Fox, who was there for the final 93 days of the 143-day run.

Menard said he wanted to create a “timeless 1980 feel” by limiting the documentary’s approach, including not shooting sit-down interviews on camera. He said the film focuses on people who were “there in the van,” and keeps the viewer within that world.

In describing his brother’s first day on the road, Darrell Fox said he felt the Marathon of Hope quickly became bigger than he initially expected, adding he remembers seeing Terry run and realizing it was no longer training but “fulfilling that dream.”

Both men also addressed misconceptions about what Terry Fox did. Darrell Fox said that while some people refer to the journey as a “walk,” Terry “ran every step of the way,” describing how organizers placed a piece of paper and a rock where Terry finished running the night before and how they adjusted if they could not locate it at 4:30 a.m.

Menard said footage he returned to during production included early film reels of Terry running while fixing the leather strap on his walking prosthetic, noting that when the negatives were prepared for 4K, it allowed the team to see details such as sweat and how he held a piece of gum.

Run Terry Run is directed by Sean Menard and runs 111 minutes. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, had two screenings at the Vancouver International Film Festival, and opens in general release on Friday, Oct. 9.

Looking beyond the film, Darrell Fox said the Marathon of Hope is continuing, describing it as “running in all of us” and saying the message has been carried forward for 46 years. He said he believes the disease of cancer “will end one day,” and that “we’re going to fulfill Terry’s dream one day.”