A new documentary titled “Run Terry Run” has unveiled its trailer, showcasing never-before-seen footage of Terry Fox’s 1980 Marathon of Hope. The documentary, set to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) next month, utilizes nearly 100 reels of recently recovered archival footage, offering an intimate look at the journey of the British Columbia athlete and cancer research advocate.
Featuring insights from key figures such as van driver Doug Alward, Terry Fox’s brother Darrell Fox, and Terry Fox himself, the trailer captures poignant moments from Fox’s cross-Canada run aimed at raising funds for cancer research following his leg amputation due to osteogenic sarcoma. In the footage, Fox expresses his thoughts on reaching Vancouver and his unwavering determination to continue his mission.
Director Sean Menard, based in Toronto, obtained the raw footage from filmmaker John Simpson, who had initially believed the footage was lost. Motivated by the scarcity of quality footage on Fox’s marathon, Menard collaborated with the Terry Fox Foundation to unearth the valuable footage stored in a Toronto facility near his home. The footage was meticulously restored to 4K quality for the documentary.
The documentary, which had its initial screening at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto last year, presents a unique storytelling approach without traditional interviews, opting for voiceovers from key individuals like Alward, Darrell Fox, Leslie Scrivener, and Darryl Sittler. The film highlights Fox’s resilience and the impact of his courageous journey, which began in 1980 and spanned over 5,000 kilometers before being cut short near Thunder Bay due to his failing health.
Despite Fox’s untimely passing in 1981, his Marathon of Hope raised over $24 million, with the Terry Fox Foundation recently surpassing $1 billion in funds for cancer research. Fox’s legacy has been commemorated in various documentaries, including the upcoming “Run Terry Run,” set to premiere at TIFF on September 19, 2026, ahead of the annual Terry Fox Run on October 9, 2026.