An exhibition at the Royal BC Museum set to start this week celebrates one of this country’s most noted heroes.
“Terry Fox: Running to the Heart of Canada” will open to the public on Wednesday, 37 years to the day after Terry Fox began his Marathon of Hope.
“We’re showing the collection from the Terry Fox Centre,” said Jack Lochman, CEO of the Royal BC Museum.
“All the personal items, his van, his running shoes, his diary, his t-shirts, all the letters that were written, they all tell a story of the Marathon of Hope.
Fox had lost his right leg to cancer at the age of 18.
In April of 1980, at age 22, Fox began a journey that saw him run the equivalent of a full marathon every day for 123 days.
The Port Coquitlam, B.C. native journeyed a remarkable 5375 kilometers before being forced to abandon his quest in Northern Ontario on September 1st.
“That summer of 1980 was the most amazing adventure of my life,” said Marathon of Hope organizer and close friend Bill Vigars.
“Every day was different, physically to watch him, emotionally it was draining but to watch him and wonder how he did it, how it did it to this day still amazes me.”
Fox passed away on June 28th, 1981, just one month shy of his 23rd birthday.
Since then, tens of millions of dollars have been raised to support cancer research in his honour and in his memory.
The exhibition is part of the Canada 150 celebrations.
It opens April 12th and will continue until October 1st.
Ben O'Hara
