Students across the city got a closer look into the inspirational life of Canadian icon Terry Fox this week, courtesy of his brother Fred Fox.

Yesterday, the elder Fox spent a portion of his afternoon at Ecole Whitehorse Elementary School – one of nine schools he was slated to visit in Whitehorse.

Using a slideshow for visuals, the resident of Maple Ridge, B.C., ran students through his memories of his late brother Terry, who cemented his place in the hearts of Canadians by attempting to run across the country on one leg to raise money for cancer research in 1980.

“Terry would be so happy, proud and surprised to know that schools from the Yukon continued what he started in 1980,” Fox told students. “You guys are truly making a difference in the lives of so many people.”

His younger brother’s original fund-raising goal during his Marathon of Hope in 1980 was $1 million, Fox said. To date, $650 million has been raised in his name.

“It has made a difference in the lives of so many,” Fox said. “People are living longer and cancer researchers are working very hard and making discoveries every day.

“But we all know somebody that has been touched by cancer and is no longer with us, so that’s why we still have to do this.”

Fox is the manager of supporter relations for the Terry Fox Foundation, and works tirelessly to protect his brother’s legacy for future generations.

He said his brother’s “sheer guts and determination” made him special.

“He would say it’s not important to be the best athlete or the smartest student, as long as you try your best,” Fox told the attentive youngsters.

Phys-ed teacher Alain Desrochers and Grade 4 student Keir MacKinnon presented a cheque of $8,828 to Fox following his presentation.

MacKinnon was the school’s top fund-raiser during the school’s run, with total pledges raked in by the youngster totalling just over $1,000.

“I’m doing it for all the people that have died of cancer,” the nine-year-old told the Star. “Terry ran across Canada and just tried everything he could before dying.”

This week’s Yukon tour marked Fox’s first appearance in the territory – one that he said was long overdue.

“It’s unfortunate we don’t get here more often,” the 57-year-old said, noting his mother used to live here 20 years ago.

“It’s important to visit schools wherever we can.”

Fox also said he would love to see a number of smaller Yukon communities again host a run next year, when the run celebrates its 35th anniversary.

In the past, charity runs have been held in Pelly Crossing, Beaver Creek, Faro, Teslin, Mayo, Old Crow and Ross River, and Fox said he would welcome those communities back to the fight against cancer with open arms.

“We used to have runs in the smaller communities, and we’d love to see those come back,” he said. “Wherever they are, someone gets cancer. This is all about continuing Terry’s dream.”

Battling bone cancer in his right leg, Terry Fox’s cross-country journey began in St. Johns, N.L., as a means to inspire a nation to action. Just 21, Terry ran the equivalent of 143 marathons in a row on his one good leg.

Five months later, his journey ended suddenly near Thunder Bay, Ont., when Terry realized the cancer had spread to his lungs. By that point, he had already raised $1.7 million towards the cause.

Despite visions of continuing his cross-country trek, Terry succumbed to the disease less than a year later.