A brand-new documentary on Terry Fox, showcasing previously unseen footage, has unveiled its trailer today, a month before its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Titled “Run Terry Run,” the film offers an intimate glimpse into the 1980 Marathon of Hope undertaken by the British Columbia athlete and cancer research advocate.
The trailer reveals conversations and insights from key figures like van driver Doug Alward, Terry Fox’s brother Darrell Fox, and Terry Fox himself as he embarked on his cross-Canada run at the age of 21 to raise funds for cancer research following a leg amputation due to osteogenic sarcoma.
In the footage, Fox expresses his thoughts on home and his determination to reach Vancouver, his final destination by the ocean. He reflects on his contentment with his mission and his resolve to persevere.
Director Sean Menard from Toronto obtained the original footage from filmmaker John Simpson, who documented Fox’s journey with a team of camera operators from the East Coast. Menard’s quest for authentic footage was fueled by the scarcity of high-quality visuals of Fox’s marathon. With support from the Terry Fox Foundation, Menard located the footage in a storage unit near his home, proceeded to restore it to 4K quality, and utilized it to craft his film, which premiered at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto last year.
The documentary, as reviewed by Canadian Running, stands out for its exclusion of traditional interviews, opting instead for voiceovers from Alward, Darrell Fox, Leslie Scrivener, the first journalist to cover the Marathon of Hope, and Darryl Sittler, the former captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs who ran alongside Terry during a segment of the journey.
Terry Fox initiated his marathon on April 12, 1980, following his cancer diagnosis three years earlier. Despite falling short of his original plan to run from St. John’s to Victoria, Fox covered 5,373 kilometers before halting near Thunder Bay, Ontario, due to lung cancer metastasis. His remarkable efforts raised over $24 million back then, equivalent to $1 per Canadian. Recently, the Terry Fox Foundation announced surpassing $1 billion in funds raised for cancer research.
Various documentaries have previously explored Fox’s life, such as Simpson’s production, “The Terry Fox Story” from 1983, and the ESPN “30 For 30” episode “Into the Wind” in 2010. In a significant tribute, Fox’s image is set to adorn Canada’s upcoming $5 banknote in 2024.
Menard highlighted the transformative journey of the 21-year-old Fox captured in his film, depicting his growth from a tentative runner with a grand vision to a young man navigating international fame while pushing his boundaries. The documentary features an original score by U.S. composer Tom Caffey, known for his work on the Michael Jordan Netflix series “The Last Dance.”
“Run Terry Run” is slated to premiere at TIFF on September 19, preceding the 46th annual Terry Fox Run by a day. The film is scheduled for a theatrical release on October 9, 2026.