Funeral held for activist Betty Fox

Betty Fox, who was thrust into the spotlight following the death of her son Terry, was laid to rest on Saturday in Port Coquitlam, B.C.

Mourners, including B.C. Premier Christy Clark, gathered to say goodbye to Fox at the same church where her son was buried in 1981.

She died last week of an undisclosed cause.

Fox, who was in her 70s, carried on her son’s quest to raise funds for cancer research after he died.

Terry Fox tried to run across Canada in the late 1970s despite having lost his leg to cancer.But his journey was cut short when the disease recurred.

Betty was chosen to carry the Olympic flag into B.C. Place Stadium during the opening ceremonies of last year’s Winter Games in Vancouver.

She grew up in a small Manitoba town and relocated to B.C with her husband in 1966.

She is survived by her husband, two sons, a daughter and several grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Terry Fox Foundation at terryfox.org or by mail to 303 – 46167 Yale Rd., Chilliwack, B.C., V2P 2P2.