Terry Fox Day officially declared second Sunday after Labour Day

VANCOUVER – On Thursday the B.C. government legislated a day in Terry Fox’s name.

The second Sunday after Labour Day will now officially be known as Terry Fox Day. This is also the day many Marathons of Hope take place across the country.

“Terry Fox is an inspiration for British Columbians, Canadians, and people all over the world,” said Premier Christy Clark in a press release. “His message of hope and the movement he started continue to impact countless lives. This legislation that MLA Linda Reimer championed shows B.C. recognizes the difference he made in the world, and we will commemorate him every second Sunday after Labour Day from now on.”

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Starting April 1980, Fox ran for 143 days and 5,373 kilometres. He started in St. John’s Newfoundland and reached Thunder Bay, Ontario, before he was forced to stop. The B.C. government said they wanted to honour Fox as a symbol of hope for British Columbians.

“Terry Fox is an incredible inspiration for those of us here in the Tri-Cities area and for people across Canada and around the world,” said Port Moody-Coquitlam MLA Linda Reimer. “Following his diagnosis, he chose to devote his life to finding a cure for cancer through his Marathon of Hope, and while he couldn’t finish it himself, people in countries all over the world continue to participate in the run that he started.”

“I am honoured and privileged to have played a part in enacting the Terry Fox Day Act, which will forever recognize the significant impact that Terry Fox has made in our province and throughout the world.”

Terry Fox’s father, Rolly, said they are very pleased there will now be an official Terry Fox Day.

“We have been moved by the kind, generous and sincere words expressed by all members of the house since the bill was introduced,” he said. “We are truly thankful, as the Terry Fox Day act acknowledges the magnificent efforts of ‘Terry Foxers’ from Ucluelet to Fort Nelson and every B.C. community in between, who further Terry’s dream of eradicating cancer once and for all.”

Today, more than $650 million has been raised in Fox’s name in Canada and around the world for cancer research. He died at the age of 22 on June 28, 1981.