Thirty years ago today, hometown hero Terry Fox kicked off his Marathon of Hope in St. John’s, N.L., in an effort to raise money and awareness for cancer research.
Since then, the marathon — now an annual event — has raised $500 million and is held in 40 countries around the world, including as far away as the United Arab Emirates.
Vancouver native Marten Youssef and his wife, Michelle Robertson-Youssef, took part in the 15th annual Terry Fox marathon in Abu Dhabi in late February.
“Michelle and I did the 10-kilometre walk and we even got to meet Judith, Terry’s sister,” Youssef said.
The couple is expecting their first child and bought him a baby Terry Fox Run T-shirt.
“Yeah, cheesy, I know,” he said. “But that’s only the beginning.”
Terry Fox’s parents, Betty and Rolly, brother Fred and sister Judith will be in St. John’s today to mark the anniversary of the Marathon of Hope.
