A new documentary titled “Run Terry Run” has unveiled its trailer, showcasing never-seen-before footage of Terry Fox and his 1980 Marathon of Hope. The documentary, set to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), utilizes nearly 100 reels of recently recovered archival footage to provide an intimate portrayal of the British Columbia athlete and cancer research advocate.
The trailer includes insights from key figures such as van driver and friend Doug Alward, Terry Fox’s brother Darrell Fox, and Terry Fox himself, as he embarked on his journey to run across Canada to raise funds for cancer research following the amputation of his leg due to osteogenic sarcoma. In a poignant moment from the trailer, Fox expresses his thoughts on reaching Vancouver and his dedication to his cause.
Director Sean Menard from Toronto uncovered the raw footage from filmmaker John Simpson, who documented Fox’s run with multiple camera operators from the East Coast. Menard’s quest was inspired by the limited high-quality footage available of Fox’s marathon. With support from the Terry Fox Foundation, he located the footage in a Toronto storage unit near his residence, restoring it to 4K quality for the documentary.
The documentary, screened at Toronto’s Roy Thomson Hall last year, features voiceovers from key individuals like Alward, Darrell Fox, Leslie Scrivener, and Darryl Sittler, providing a unique perspective on Fox’s remarkable journey. Fox’s Marathon of Hope, which began in 1980, aimed to cover the distance from St. John’s to Victoria. Despite having to cut the run short near Thunder Bay due to his illness, Fox’s efforts raised over $24 million at the time, with the Terry Fox Foundation recently surpassing $1 billion in funds raised for cancer research.
Terry Fox has been the subject of various documentaries over the years, with his legacy enduring through different film projects. In 2024, the Bank of Canada announced plans to feature Fox’s image on the country’s upcoming $5 banknote. Menard’s documentary captures the transformation of a 21-year-old Fox, evolving from a young, ambitious runner to a global symbol of courage and determination. The film’s original score was composed by Tom Caffey, known for his work on the acclaimed 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.
