Terry Fox entered Brampton on July 24, 1980, during the Marathon of Hope. He ran east along Bovaird from Halton Hills, south on Hurontario Street through downtown Brampton and then east on Queen Street out of Brampton on Highway 50. The City celebrates Terry Fox as a Canadian athlete, humanitarian and cancer research activist and embraces his legacy as a beacon of vibrant and enduring spirit. This memorial aims to recognize the 45th anniversary of the Marathon of Hope and inspire values of perseverance, hope and dedication.
In collaboration with the City of Brampton and the Peel Archives, the artist has used archival reference photographs to depict Terry in the clothes and shoes worn on his run through Brampton. Visitors are invited to engage with the artwork to learn more about Terry's journey.
"A concrete relief artwork wraps the pedestal like a storybook, depicting the boreal forests of Thunder Bay with guiding animal spirits -
bison, moose, beaver, red fox, Canada goose and monarch butterfly - symbols of resilience across Canada. Interwoven with these are native plants such as
white pine, spruce, prairie crocus and sage, connecting to the landscapes Terry ran through and to Chinguacousy Park. Encircling the monument, a circular pathway resembles a highway with bronze-yellow dashed lines engraved with milestones.
It is our vision that Terry Fox's journey has never ended. We are simply continuing where he left off. This monument is not just for Terry, but for the hope, compassion and resilience in all of us."
- Christiano De Araujo
Terry's Story: A Dream As Big As Our Country
Courtesy of the Terry Fox Foundation
Terry's personal experience and research led him to a simple conclusion - more money was needed for cancer research. And so, in the modest but motivated style that would prove to be his trademark, Terry started training and planning for his cross-Canada run to raise funds for cancer research. He dipped his artificial leg in the Atlantic Ocean on April 12, 1980, and proceeded to unite Canadians in a way never before, nor since, seen. The only thing that could have stopped Terry from reaching the Pacific Ocean did. Cancer returned in his lungs and he was forced to stop on September 1, 1980, after having run 5,373 kilometres.
Eighteen-year-old Terry Fox of Port Coquitlam, BC never saw himself as remarkable. But Terry's cancer diagnosis of osteogenic sarcoma just above the knee, the subsequent amputation of his leg and experience in the cancer wards changed all that. A newly nurtured reservoir of compassion, combined with a fierce determination to bring an end to the suffering cancer causes, set Terry on a path that, quite simply, changed the world.
Terry decided to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research in a Marathon of Hope. He wasn't doing the run to become famous; he wanted to create change and fund a cure for all cancers. Terry ran close to 42 kilometres (26 miles) a day through Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec and Ontario. He ran through snow, rain, wind, heat, humidity. He started at 4:30am in the morning and often did not finish his last mile until 7 pm at night. Terry never gave up hope that Canadians would respond to his story, to his effort…and he was right. Terry entered Ontario on June 28, the whole country was cheering him on and donating to cancer research. Canadians saw that Terry's try was unlimited.
Terry died on June 28, 1981, at the age of 22. This bold and courageous Canadian was gone, but his legacy was just beginning.
