Terry Fox began his Marathon of Hope on April 12, 1980.

This iconic run started in St. John's, Newfoundland, where the 21-year-old dipped his prosthetic leg in the Atlantic Ocean before setting off westward across Canada to raise funds for cancer research. Diagnosed with osteosarcoma at 18, Terry had his right leg amputated above the knee in 1977, yet trained relentlessly for over a year to pursue this dream.

Run Details

  • Starting Point : St. John's, Newfoundland, at around 3 p.m. local time after a small ceremony with local mayor Dorothy Wyatt.
  • Daily Goal : Equivalent of a full marathon (about 42 km or 26 miles) each day, despite harsh weather and his prosthetic leg.
  • Duration Achieved : 143 days, covering 5,373 km (3,339 miles) until lung cancer forced him to stop near Thunder Bay, Ontario, on September 1, 1980.
  • Fundraising Impact : Initially aimed for $1 million (one dollar per Canadian); raised $24.17 million by his passing on June 28, 1981, with over $850 million total via annual Terry Fox Runs since 1981.

The Inspiration Behind It

Terry's journal captures the grit: on day one, he noted a police escort, honking supporters, and rain in his first miles into Grand Falls. His mental toughness shone through early struggles for media attention, which exploded as crowds grew across Atlantic Canada, Quebec, and Ontario. Sadly, cancer spread to his lungs, ending the cross-country goal, but his story endures as a symbol of resilience.

Legacy Today

In 2025, the 45th anniversary highlighted his start date amid ongoing runs worldwide. The Terry Fox Foundation continues funding research, crediting his solo effort with revolutionizing charity runs. As of January 2026, events like school runs keep the momentum alive.

"I think the greatest measure of success is to have inspired others to make the most of themselves, to push to new limits." – Terry Fox

TL;DR : April 12, 1980, in St. John's, Newfoundland – a date etched in Canadian history for courage against cancer.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.