Thousands gather at Wilket Creek Park for 46th annual Terry Fox Run on Sunday

Thousands of Torontonians gathered across the city on Sunday, September 20, to participate in the 46th annual Terry Fox Run, celebrating the legacy of the Canadian marathon runner and fundraising for cancer research. The main Toronto run took place at Wilket Creek Park, one of more than 260 volunteer-organized community runs across Ontario.

Jonathan Selman, organizer of Toronto's run, said Terry Fox remains an inspiration. "Terry is one of our greatest Canadian heroes, who ran 143 days on one good leg running a marathon a day," Selman told the source. "We all grow up learning about Terry and his impact. He was an incredible—and possibly the greatest—Canadian athlete."

Fox began his Marathon of Hope on April 12, 1980, roughly three years after his cancer diagnosis. His original goal was to run from St. John's to Victoria, but he completed 5,373 kilometres before cancer spread to his lungs and forced the attempt to end near Thunder Bay. Fox died in 1981. His Marathon of Hope had raised more than $24 million—$1 for every Canadian at that time. The Terry Fox Foundation has since surpassed $1 billion in funds raised for cancer research, accumulated through families and teams donating anything from pennies to major donations over the decades.

"It's an incredible story of how Canada comes together every year," Selman said.

Domenico Meleca, a 19-year-old cancer survivor and amputee, participated in Sunday's run. Meleca was diagnosed with osteosarcoma—the same cancer Fox had—in 2023 after noticing pain in his ankle. He completed treatment in 2024, which included amputation of his right leg below the knee. Nearly three years out of remission and feeling healthy, Meleca credits Fox's example with inspiring him to persevere. "Terry Fox got through it and that inspired me to get through it. If he can do it, then I can do it," Meleca said. "Cancer research gets better over time the more it's funded, and because of that I've been able to live a healthy life." Meleca plans to continue fundraising for cancer treatment.

Participant Kathleen Morris attended with friends and family as an annual tradition to honour people in their lives impacted by cancer.