On April 12, 1980, Terry Fox began his iconic Marathon of Hope in St. John’s, N.L. Runners at a road race in Cape Breton are remembering the start of that journey 35 years later.

“I remember Terry being my hero,” said runner Debbie Howe. “I remember him dipping his leg in the ocean, and following him along the route.”

Fox attempted to run across the country to raise money and awareness for cancer after he lost his right leg to the disease.

“He’s an amazing person, an amazing role model,” said Corey Deveaux. “As Canadians, we all aspire to be like him.”

“You think it’s tough going against the wind out there,” said runner Kelly MacDonald. “Just imagine what he went through, and how he pushed through. It’s incredible.”

Fox ran the equivalent of a full marathon, or 42 kilometres, each day of his journey. He fought through injuries and bad weather.

“I complained running on two legs, I can only imagine what it was like on one,” said Cyril MacDonald.

Runner Kevin Paget was taking part in Sunday’s race with a 50-pound military backpack on his back.
“Walking 13 kilometres with both my legs, without this backpack, would be enough of a challenge without having to do it with one leg,” Paget said.

The Marathon of Hope arrived in the Maritimes in 1980 when Fox stepped off the Newfoundland ferry in North Sydney. Debbie Howe remembers being there that day and cheering him on.

“I was out on the side of the road when he passed through the Sydney area, and my heart was just in it for him,” Howe said. “And all the years I’ve run, I always think of Terry fox.”

The Marathon of Hope is credited with inspiring a generation of people to start running. The sport was not particularly popular in 1980.

Fox’s efforts didn’t gain national attention until he reached Ontario.

“When he came through, it wasn’t such a big deal. His run didn’t really become popular until later on,” said Dean Abbass.

Five months into the run, Fox had to stop in Thunder Bay, Ont., after his cancer returned in his lungs. He died in June of 1981, leaving a legacy that has impacted millions.

“If he could do that, a lot of other people were inspired,” Howe said. “They knew they could do it.”

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Ryan MacDonald