The preview for an upcoming documentary on Terry Fox, showcasing previously unseen footage, was unveiled today, a month before its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Titled “Run Terry Run,” the documentary utilizes close to 100 reels of newly recovered archival footage to provide an intimate portrayal of the 1980 Marathon of Hope undertaken by the British Columbia athlete and cancer research advocate.
The trailer includes conversations and insights from Doug Alward, the van driver and friend, Darrell Fox, Terry Fox’s younger brother, and Terry Fox himself during his attempt, at the age of 21, to run across 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 his journey in Vancouver.
Toronto filmmaker Sean Menard obtained the original footage from filmmaker John Simpson, who documented Fox’s run with multiple camera operators from the East Coast. Menard’s search for firsthand documentation of Fox’s marathon was driven by the scarcity of high-quality footage available. With support from the Terry Fox Foundation, Menard located the footage in a Toronto storage unit near his residence, then restored it to 4K quality for his film. The documentary, first shown at Toronto’s Roy Thomson Hall last year, features voiceovers from key individuals involved in Fox’s journey.
Terry Fox began his marathon on April 12, 1980, aiming to run from St. John’s to Victoria. Despite having to halt his attempt near Thunder Bay, Ontario, due to the spread of cancer to his lungs, Fox covered 5,373 kilometers. His initiative raised over $24 million at the time, equivalent to $1 per Canadian. The Terry Fox Foundation recently announced surpassing $1 billion in funds raised for cancer research. Fox has been the focus of several documentaries, including Menard’s upcoming film, as well as being selected to appear on Canada’s $5 banknote in 2024.
Menard described his documentary as a portrayal of Fox’s growth from a young, uncertain runner with a bold vision to a confident individual navigating international attention while challenging his boundaries. The film features an original 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, ahead of the 46th annual Terry Fox Run, with a theatrical release scheduled for October 9, 2026.