The preview for an upcoming documentary on Terry Fox, showcasing previously unreleased footage, was unveiled today, a month prior to its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Titled “Run Terry Run,” the documentary delves into the 1980 Marathon of Hope undertaken by the British Columbia athlete and advocate for cancer research, using close to 100 reels of newly discovered archival material.
The trailer includes conversations and insights from Doug Alward, the van driver and friend of Fox, Darrell Fox, Terry’s younger brother, and Terry Fox himself, as he embarked on his ambitious journey to traverse Canada to raise funds for cancer research following the amputation of his leg due to osteogenic sarcoma. In the trailer, Fox expresses his thoughts on home and his determination to finish the marathon in Vancouver.
Director Sean Menard from Toronto obtained the original footage from filmmaker John Simpson, who documented Fox’s run with multiple camera operators from the East Coast. Despite Simpson’s previous belief that the footage had been discarded, Menard discovered it in a storage unit in Toronto with the assistance of the Terry Fox Foundation, near his own residence. The footage was meticulously restored to 4K quality for the documentary, which premiered at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto last year.
The documentary has been commended for its unique approach, avoiding traditional interview formats and instead utilizing voiceovers from key figures such as 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 marathon.
Terry Fox initiated his marathon on April 12, 1980, following a cancer diagnosis three years earlier, with the initial goal of running from St. John’s to Victoria. Despite having to halt his endeavor near Thunder Bay, Ontario, due to the spread of cancer to his lungs, Fox’s efforts raised over $24 million at the time, equivalent to $1 from every Canadian. Recently, the Terry Fox Foundation announced surpassing $1 billion in funds raised for cancer research.
Several documentaries have previously chronicled Fox’s story, and in 2024, the Bank of Canada revealed plans to feature Fox on the upcoming $5 banknote. Menard emphasized that his documentary captures Fox’s transformation from a young and uncertain runner with a bold vision to a confident individual navigating the global spotlight while challenging his limits.
The documentary features an original musical score by composer Tom Caffey, known for his work on the Michael Jordan Netflix series “The Last Dance.” “Run Terry Run” is set to premiere at TIFF on September 19, preceding the 46th annual Terry Fox Run, with a theatrical release scheduled for October 9, 2026.
