We are probably all aware of the story of Terry Fox, but here is a quick refresher. Fox was a Canadian athlete, humanitarian and cancer research activist, born in Winnipeg, Man. He grew up in Port Coquitlam, B.C.

In 1977, he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a form of cancer that often starts in the knees, he was told his leg would have to be amputated. In 1980, he embarked on an east-to-west cross-Canada run to raise money for cancer awareness and research.

The spread of cancer forced him to end his journey after 143 days and 5,373 kilometres travelled in Thunder Bay, Ont.

If you are ever travelling through Thunder Bay, take a moment to stop at the Terry Fox memorial, it is very moving.

He died June 28, 1981, at the age of 22, in New Westminster, B.C.

The annual Terry Fox Run was first held in 1981 and has grown to involve millions of participants in over 60 countries.

It is now the world’s largest one-day fundraiser for cancer research. As of January 2018, over $750 million has been raised in his name.

On Sunday, 108 runners and walkers gathered at Rotary Peace Park on a beautiful sunny afternoon to participate in the Terry Fox Run.

The total funds raised was $7,350 and although there were 25 fewer participants compared to last year, the run raised $4,500 more than 2018.

Participating in this year’s Whitehorse Terry Fox Run was Team Kelly, a group of 10 from B.C. and one from Ontario who has travelled across the country participating in Terry Fox Runs.

The group has participated in the annual event in all the provinces except Newfoundland and Nunavut.

The team, named after Kelly Christensen, started doing the runs after Christensen was diagnosed. Having fought and beat cancer, Christensen was in Whitehorse Sunday.

“In 2001 I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer,” said Christensen. “I live in Courtney but I had to travel to Victoria for my treatments. My friends came from Alberta and Montreal and while we were there it was September so we decided to do the Terry Fox Run and have done it in a different province ever since.”

Christensen said it meant everything to have her friends with her, year-after-year.

Graig Bowes was born in Whitehorse before moving to B.C. A member of Team Kelly, Bowes went to Mary Hill Junior High School with Fox.

“I knew him, I wasn’t close buddies with him but we overlapped in classroom and gym class,” said Bowes. “He turned out to be quite the basketball player.

“The way it went, after Grade 10, we went to senior high, I went to Centennial in Coquitlam for my sports and he went to Port Coquitlam High for basketball.”

With his mother’s convincing, Fox enrolled at Simon Fraser University, where he studied kinesiology. He tried out, and made, the junior varsity basketball team.

Bowes said he thought “a lot of things” when he learned Fox would be doing a coast-to-coast run for cancer research.

“I thought ‘holy smokes’ and that’s very brave and wonderful,” said Bowes. “The initiative and the strides made in cancer research is just amazing.”

Team Kelly is a collection of Air Force veterans, wives and friends. Christensen’s husband Ted was by her side for the run.

“It’s for the cause and there have been wonderful strides made for cancer research,” said Ted.

“I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Terry Fox,” said Christensen. “I’m sure (the monies raised) it did. The technology we have today, we probably wouldn’t have without the money raised.”

Laurel Smith has been friends with Christensen since bootcamp when they joined the Air Force September 1976. Smith has been with Christensen for her 19 years of recovery and has been with her across Canada for the Terry Fox Run.

Smith is one of the people Christensen called for help after she received her diagnosis.

“It brings us so much pride to know she is here because of the Terry Fox Foundation,” said Smith while fighting back tears. “The cancer that Terry had he would have been cured today.

“All of the money raised, we raise, everybody raises, it’s for everybody all around the world.”

For some of Team Kelly, it was there first time to the territory. They were the last team to arrive back at Rotary Peace Park, not that it was competitive, because they continued to stop, take photos and enjoy the scenery.

Fox was joined on his run by friend Doug Alward, who Bowes also attended school with.

“Doug was the long-distance runner,” said Bowes. “He’s the one that was encouraging Terry along the way, drove the van most of the way and when his younger brother Darrell came out to join them, he ran beside him.”

The Marathon of Hope began on April 12, 1980 when Fox dipped his right leg into the Atlantic Ocean near St. John’s, Newfoundland. He filled two large water bottles with ocean water and intended to keep one as a souvenir and one to pour into the Pacific upon completing his journey in Victoria.

Seeing all those runners on Sunday participating was very moving to witness. Most people have been affected in some way by cancer.

The Terry Fox Run just shows how powerful sports can be.