A new documentary trailer called “Run Terry Run” was unveiled today, a month ahead of its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The documentary boasts never-before-seen footage of Terry Fox’s 1980 Marathon of Hope, using nearly 100 reels of recently discovered archival material.
The trailer showcases conversations with 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 post his leg amputation due to osteogenic sarcoma.
Director Sean Menard from Toronto obtained the original footage from filmmaker John Simpson, who had filmed Fox’s journey with multiple camera crews from the East Coast. Despite Simpson’s belief that the excess footage had been discarded, Menard, with the support of the Terry Fox Foundation, located the footage in a storage unit in Toronto.
The footage was restored to 4K quality and utilized in the documentary, which was first screened at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto last year. The film, which includes voiceovers from key individuals like Alward, Darrell Fox, journalist Leslie Scrivener, and former Toronto Maple Leafs captain Darryl Sittler, offers a unique perspective on Terry Fox’s inspiring story.
Terry Fox commenced his marathon on April 12, 1980, aiming to run from St. John’s to Victoria. Despite having to curtail his run near Thunder Bay, Ontario, due to cancer spreading to his lungs, Fox’s efforts raised over $24 million at the time, equivalent to $1 from every Canadian. Recently, the Terry Fox Foundation announced surpassing $1 billion in funds raised for cancer research.
Numerous documentaries have been produced on Terry Fox, with his image set to feature on Canada’s upcoming $5 banknote in 2024. Menard’s documentary captures Fox’s transformation from a hesitant runner with a big vision to a young man grappling with international fame while challenging his limits.
The documentary features an original score by U.S. 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, 2026, a day before the 46th annual Terry Fox Run, with a theatrical release scheduled for October 9, 2026.