Terry Fox’s father visits Lethbridge for the 35th annual run

Lethbridge- For the first time ever, Terry Fox’s father visited Lethbridge for the 35^th annual Terry Fox run Wednesday.

“It’s the first time I have seen so many children at one time. It’s amazing and I am very proud to be here and happy to be here,” said Roland Fox.

The worldwide event has raised more than $700 million for cancer research since the apmutee teen ran his marathon of hope in 1980.

“When Terry was in the hospital undergoing chemotherapy, he saw other kids suffering and fighting and that’s when he started to run across Canada and raise money,” explained Fox. “It was the children, he said, that drove him to do what he did.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "When Terry was in the hospital undergoing chemotherapy, he saw other kids suffering and fighting and that's when he started to run across Canada and raise money," explained Fox. "It was the children, he said, that drove him to do what he did."

Three thousand students from Lethbridge School District 51 took part in the run Wednesday at Henderson Lake Park. Gunner Harris who attends General Stewart was one of the participants. Harris was celebrating his upcoming anniversary of being cancer free. His mother  said the memory of Terry Fox gives him hope and inspiration.

“We know that some of that money goes to pediatric cancer research and it’s a wonderful thing,” said Harris.

Terry Fox ran 42 kilometres a day for 143 days before he was stopped by a relapse of the disease that eventually killed him. The Lethbridge School District raised more than $15,000.