File:TerryFoxToronto19800712.JPG · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons
Terry Fox
Sign in to saveAlso known as Terrance Stanley Fox, Terrance Stanley "Terry" Fox, Terry
Canadian athlete, humanitarian, and cancer research activist
Key facts
- Born
- Terrance Stanley Fox , ( 1958-07-28 ) July 28, 1958, Winnipeg , Manitoba, Canada
- Died
- June 28, 1981 (1981-06-28) (aged 22), New Westminster , British Columbia, Canada
- Cause of death
- Osteosarcoma
- Education
- Simon Fraser University
- Known for
- Marathon of Hope
- Title
- Companion of the Order of Canada
- Mother
- Betty Fox
via Wikipedia infobox
Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- human
- Given name
- Terrence
- Family name
- Fox
- Gender
- male
- Citizenship
- Canada
- Place of birth
- Winnipeg
- Place of death
- New Westminster
- Occupation
- activist
- Educated at
- Simon Fraser University
- Languages spoken
- English language
- Sport
- competitive swimming
- Official website
- terryfox.org
- Image
- TerryFoxToronto19800712.JPG
Show 10 more facts
- Commons category
- Terry Fox
- cause of death
- osteosarcoma
- date of birth
- 1958-00-00
- date of death
- 1981-00-00
- topic's main category
- Category:Terry Fox
- manner of death
- natural causes
- birth name
- Terrance Stanley Fox
- place of burial
- Port Coquitlam
- name in native language
- Terrance Stanley Fox
- nickname
- Terry
via Wikidata · CC0
~32 min read
Encyclopedic overview
Terrance Stanley Fox (July 28, 1958 – June 28, 1981) was a Canadian athlete, humanitarian, and cancer research activist. In 1980, having had one leg amputated due to cancer, he embarked on a cross-Canada run to raise money and awareness for cancer research. The annual Terry Fox Run, first held in 1981, has grown to involve millions of participants in over 60 countries and is the world's largest one-day fundraiser for cancer research; over C$1 billion has been raised in his name through the Terry Fox Research Institute as of February 2026.
Fox was a distance runner and basketball player for Port Coquitlam Senior Secondary School, later named after him, and Simon Fraser University. His right leg was amputated in 1977 after he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, though he continued to run using an artificial leg. He also played wheelchair basketball in Vancouver, winning three national championships.
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Terry Fox” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.