Thirty-five years after Terry Fox set off on his historic Marathon of Hope, thousands of people across Canada are running in his honour.
In Metro Vancouver, crowds are braving wet weather to raise money for cancer research, including in his hometown of Port Coquitlam.
One of those taking part in the Port Coquitlam event is Analyn Purcell, a cancer survivor who was diagnosed with the same form of the disease that led to Fox’s death in 1981.
“In 1998, I was 14 years old and I walked home from school one day after six months of my knee hurting very badly to be told…that I had bone cancer,” said Purcell.
“We went through 18 rounds of chemotherapy. I had 10 surgeries in total, including one that was the amputation of my right leg.”
WATCH: 35th Anniversary of Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope
Purcell credits cancer research funded in part by the Terry Fox Foundation for developing breakthroughs that helped her recover.
“I’ve been able to grow up and have a very normal life and do things that most people probably take for granted…I just get to be this ordinary mom now.”
There are more than 100 events taking place today in B.C. and the Yukon, and hundreds more across Canada.
For a full list of runs across B.C., click here.
-With files from Peter Meiszner
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