Born to Rolly and Betty Fox, he grew up in a close-knit household that valued perseverance and community service. His early years in British Columbia shaped a practical, outdoorsy resilience he carried into adulthood.

The Fox family settled in Port Coquitlam, where he attended local schools and quickly immersed himself in team sports. The move placed him in a supportive community that later rallied strongly behind his fundraising goals.

He trained persistently to earn a place on school basketball teams, often staying late to practice skills and conditioning. Coaches and classmates noted his stubborn work ethic, a trait that later defined his public mission.

After severe knee pain, doctors diagnosed osteosarcoma and began urgent treatment amid the realities of 1970s cancer care. The news redirected his plans and introduced him to fellow patients whose struggles shaped his empathy.

Surgeons amputated his right leg to stop the spread of cancer, and he began adapting to a prosthetic during recovery. He watched other patients endure chemotherapy and resolved to fight for better research funding and hope.

During rehabilitation, he practiced walking and running with a prosthesis, developing a distinctive hop-step stride. The physical grind became a daily discipline, turning pain and frustration into a concrete plan for action.

He studied kinesiology at Simon Fraser University, where coursework deepened his understanding of training and endurance. Campus life also broadened his network, helping him imagine a national-scale fundraising effort.

Inspired by stories of other amputee athletes and by the needs he saw in hospital wards, he proposed a coast-to-coast run. He aimed to raise one dollar for every Canadian, framing the mission as both personal and national.

He dipped his artificial leg in the Atlantic Ocean and began running westward, launching what he called the Marathon of Hope. Early days were lonely and cold, but he kept a strict daily target despite limited publicity.

As he crossed Newfoundland, small towns organized breakfasts, donation jars, and roadside greetings that sustained morale and finances. The growing kindness confirmed his belief that ordinary Canadians would carry the cause together.

Running long highway stretches in Quebec tested him with language barriers, traffic, and fatigue from daily distances. Community organizers and volunteers helped coordinate events, steadily lifting donations as media attention improved.

In Ontario, crowds swelled and national broadcasters began covering his story, turning the run into a shared public narrative. Support from civic leaders and schoolchildren helped transform spontaneous giving into organized fundraising.

He was welcomed by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, signaling that the Marathon of Hope had become a national cause. The meeting amplified awareness of cancer research needs and encouraged sponsors and municipalities to contribute.

Canada honored him as a Companion of the Order of Canada, recognizing extraordinary service and courage. The distinction increased public trust in the campaign, drawing wider participation from institutions, businesses, and families.

After persistent chest pain and exhaustion, doctors found cancer had spread to his lungs, forcing him to stop running. He ended his effort near Thunder Bay, promising he would continue if his health allowed and urging others to help.

A Canada-wide telethon drew celebrities, broadcasters, and volunteers to raise funds in his name for cancer research. The event demonstrated the scale of public commitment, turning his unfinished run into a lasting movement.

Communities organized the first Terry Fox Run, creating a recurring way for ordinary people to participate directly in the mission. The annual event helped institutionalize his message and continued funding research well beyond his lifetime.

He died after months of intensive care, and the country mourned a symbol of determination and generosity. Tributes from families, schools, and public officials emphasized how his example reshaped Canadian philanthropy and identity.