A new documentary trailer showcasing never-before-seen footage of Terry Fox was unveiled today, a month before its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Titled “Run Terry Run,” the documentary offers an intimate look at the 1980 Marathon of Hope undertaken by the British Columbia athlete and cancer research advocate. The trailer includes insights from key figures such as van driver Doug Alward, Terry Fox’s brother Darrell Fox, and Fox himself as he embarked on his cross-Canada run at the age of 21 to raise funds for cancer research following a leg amputation due to osteogenic sarcoma.
Toronto-based director Sean Menard obtained nearly 100 reels of archival footage from filmmaker John Simpson, who had initially assumed the footage was discarded after producing his own documentary in 1981. With support from the Terry Fox Foundation, Menard located the footage stored in a Toronto facility and meticulously restored it to 4K quality for his documentary. The film, which premiered at Toronto’s Roy Thomson Hall last year, delves into Fox’s journey without relying on traditional interviews, opting instead for voiceovers from key individuals like Leslie Scrivener and Darryl Sittler.
Terry Fox commenced his marathon on April 12, 1980, aiming to run from St. John’s to Victoria but had to halt his attempt near Thunder Bay, Ontario, after the cancer spread to his lungs. Despite his passing in 1981, Fox’s legacy endured, with his marathon raising over $24 million at the time, equivalent to $1 from every Canadian. In a landmark achievement, the Terry Fox Foundation surpassed $1 billion in cancer research funds earlier this year. Various documentaries have depicted Fox’s inspirational story, leading to his image being selected for Canada’s $5 banknote in 2024.
Menard emphasized how his documentary captures Fox’s growth from a hesitant runner with a bold vision to a young man navigating global attention while testing his boundaries. The film features an original score by composer Tom Caffey, known for his work on the Michael Jordan docuseries “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.