The Terry Fox Run 2025 unites schools worldwide in a powerful movement against cancer. Discover how students, teachers, and communities honor Terry Fox’s legacy through fitness, fundraising, and hope.
As classrooms buzz with the rhythm of a new academic year, thousands of schools worldwide are stepping out—literally—to honor a legacy of courage and compassion. Today, September 20, 2025, marks a pivotal moment in the Terry Fox Run, transforming playgrounds, tracks, and community paths into vibrant hubs of hope.
This non-competitive event, inspired by Canadian icon Terry Fox’s 1980 Marathon of Hope, sees over 10,000 schools across Canada alone mobilizing students, teachers, and families to raise funds for cancer research. Globally, participation now spans more than 60 countries, underscoring education’s power to foster empathy, fitness, and social impact amid pressing challenges like chronic absenteeism and policy debates.
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The Enduring Spirit of Terry Fox Run
Terry Fox’s story remains a timeless beacon for young minds. Diagnosed with osteosarcoma at 18, Fox lost his right leg but refused to let it define him. In April 1980, he dipped his prosthetic leg into the Atlantic Ocean in Newfoundland and began a cross-Canada run to raise $1 for every Canadian—a modest goal that soon became a national phenomenon.
Over 143 days, he covered 5,373 kilometers—equivalent to 128 marathons—before cancer’s spread forced him to stop near Thunder Bay, Ontario. Fox passed away in June 1981 at just 22 years old, but his Marathon of Hope ignited a movement that has since raised over C$900 million for cancer research through the Terry Fox Foundation.
Launched in 1981, the annual Terry Fox Run embodies Fox’s vision: inclusive, non-competitive, and free of corporate fanfare. While the main national run unfolded on September 14 this year—drawing thousands across 650 Canadian communities—the School Run keeps the momentum alive through late September. Distances vary from 5 to 15 kilometers, but as Fox emphasized, showing up matters more than speed.
Schools adapt creatively: some host backyard jogs, others incorporate wheelchair races, and a new app launched for the 45th anniversary enables QR code sharing, virtual tracking, and progress updates.
Terry Fox Run: Schools as Catalysts for Change
Education isn’t confined to textbooks; it’s a launchpad for real-world action. This year’s Terry Fox School Run highlights how philanthropy blends with learning, teaching resilience and community stewardship.
In Canada, the Terry Fox Foundation’s National School Run Day encourages assemblies, storytelling sessions, and “Toonies for Terry” fundraisers—where students donate $2 coins—often raising over $3,000 per school. Districts like West Vancouver and Rocky View Schools in Alberta are buzzing with activity, their feeds filled with red-shirted runners and fox-ear headbands.
The event’s global reach is equally profound. In Bengaluru, India, the Canadian International School (CIS) is hosting its 15th annual run today at its Yelahanka campus. Hundreds of participants from schools, colleges, and organizations are expected to complete a 5K loop around Manchenahalli Lake, aiming to raise ₹25 lakhs (about $30,000 USD) for Tata Memorial Hospital’s cancer research.
“This run isn’t just about movement; it’s about igniting empathy in our youth,” said a CIS spokesperson. Participation is free, with donations encouraged through T-shirt sales and pledges. Last year, CIS raised over ₹20 lakhs, underscoring education’s borderless impact.
In the United States, where chronic absenteeism remains a post-pandemic challenge—hovering at 26% nationally, nearly double pre-2020 levels—runs like these offer a counter-narrative. A RAND report links such events to reduced absenteeism, as students find purpose, belonging, and motivation through shared goals. States like California, which aim to halve absenteeism by 2030, are integrating similar activities to re-engage learners.
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Beyond the Finish Line: Lasting Lessons
These runs do more than raise money—82 cents of every dollar collected directly supports research into pediatric, lung, and ovarian cancers. They also instill the values Fox stood for: perseverance, community, and compassion.
“These events teach kids that one step can spark change—much like Fox’s,” reflects Dr. Elena Vasquez, a U.S. PE educator who coordinates Terry Fox Runs in urban districts. “In a world of distractions, they remind us that education builds not just minds, but hearts.”
Across social media, today’s visuals are striking: Ontario students dancing post-run, Nova Scotia kids cheering with toonies in hand, and Bengaluru runners high-fiving by the lakeside. For parents and educators, it’s a reminder that beyond test scores and funding debates, grassroots initiatives like this sustain the soul of schooling.
As the sun sets on September 20, the Terry Fox Run isn’t an endpoint—it’s a relay. With over $10 million raised annually in Canada alone, it keeps Fox’s dream alive, one determined stride at a time.
To join or donate, visit terryfox.org. In Terry Fox’s own words: “I just wish people would realize that anything’s possible if you try.”