A newly released trailer unveils a documentary on Terry Fox, showcasing previously unseen footage, ahead of its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) next month. Titled “Run Terry Run,” the film provides a unique perspective on the 1980 Marathon of Hope undertaken by the British Columbia athlete and cancer research advocate.
The trailer includes insights from key figures such as van driver Doug Alward, Terry Fox’s brother Darrell Fox, and Terry Fox himself, as he embarked on his cross-Canada run to raise funds for cancer research following a leg amputation due to osteogenic sarcoma. The recovered archival footage, totaling nearly 100 reels, offers a glimpse into Fox’s determination and aspirations during the marathon.
Director Sean Menard, based in Toronto, obtained the raw footage from filmmaker John Simpson, who documented Fox’s journey with a team of camera operators. Menard’s quest for authentic footage was supported by the Terry Fox Foundation, leading to the discovery of the preserved reels in a storage unit in Toronto. The footage was meticulously restored to 4K quality for the documentary, which premiered at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto last year.
The documentary, devoid of traditional interview formats, features voiceovers from key individuals such as Alward, Darrell Fox, Leslie Scrivener, the first journalist to cover the Marathon of Hope, and Darryl Sittler, former captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs who ran alongside Terry during a segment of the marathon.
Terry Fox initiated his Marathon of Hope on April 12, 1980, following a cancer diagnosis three years earlier. Despite having to halt his run near Thunder Bay, Ontario, after the cancer spread to his lungs, Fox managed to cover 5,373 kilometers, raising over $24 million for cancer research. The Terry Fox Foundation recently surpassed $1 billion in funds raised for cancer research.
Over the years, several documentaries have highlighted Fox’s inspirational journey, culminating in the announcement by the Bank of Canada to feature Fox on the $5 banknote to be issued in 2024. Menard emphasized the documentary’s focus on Fox’s personal growth and the challenges he faced as he navigated fame and physical limitations during the marathon.
The documentary’s original score was composed by Tom Caffey, known for his work on the Michael Jordan Netflix series “The Last Dance.” “Run Terry Run” is set to debut at TIFF on September 19, preceding the 46th annual Terry Fox Run, with a theatrical release planned for October 9, 2026.