A new documentary about Terry Fox, showcasing “never-before-seen” footage, unveiled its trailer today, a month ahead of its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Titled “Run Terry Run,” the film provides an intimate portrayal of the 1980 Marathon of Hope undertaken by the British Columbia athlete and cancer research advocate, utilizing nearly 100 recently recovered archival reels.
The trailer includes insights and reflections from key figures such as van driver and friend Doug Alward, Terry Fox’s younger brother Darrell Fox, and Terry Fox himself as he embarked on his ambitious journey to run across Canada following the amputation of his leg due to osteogenic sarcoma. In the trailer, Fox expresses his thoughts on finishing the run in Vancouver and his dedication to the cause.
Director Sean Menard from Toronto obtained the raw footage from filmmaker John Simpson, who documented Fox’s run with multiple camera operators from the East Coast. Despite Simpson’s belief that the footage had been discarded, Menard discovered it in a Toronto storage unit with the assistance of the Terry Fox Foundation, restoring it to 4K quality for the documentary.
The film, which had a prior screening at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto, eschews traditional interviews for voiceovers from notable individuals such as Leslie Scrivener, the first journalist to cover the Marathon of Hope, and Darryl Sittler, the former captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs who ran alongside Terry during a portion of the marathon.
Terry Fox initiated his marathon on April 12, 1980, aiming to run from St. John’s to Victoria following his cancer diagnosis three years earlier. Despite having to halt his attempt near Thunder Bay due to the cancer’s progression to his lungs, Fox’s efforts raised over $24 million at the time, equivalent to $1 from each Canadian. Recently, the Terry Fox Foundation surpassed $1 billion in funds for cancer research.
The documentary sheds light on Fox’s remarkable journey, depicting his transformation from a young, idealistic runner to a global icon grappling with newfound fame and personal challenges. 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, preceding the 46th annual Terry Fox Run, with a theatrical release scheduled for October 9, 2026.