Darrell Fox cycled into the Sault this afternoon as he continued his cross Canada journey to raise funds for cancer research and mark the 45th anniversary of brother Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope.
Accompanied by seven other cyclists, Darrell began his journey in Vancouver on June 9, 2025.
This marked the eighteenth day of his 32-day trek to St. John’s.
Darrell and his team will be resting at Sleep Inn before resuming their gruelling cycling trip Friday morning.
Darrell recently passed Thunder Bay where brother Terry had to end his Marathon of Hope on Sept. 1, 1980 due to the return of his cancer.
Terry died of cancer June 28, 1981.
“When we were in Thunder Bay, that was quite an emotional day for all of us. But to get beyond that point, I feel now that I'm empowered by Terry.
"I've been feeling stronger every day since I passed Thunder Bay. Terry’s been with me every pedal stroke. Having Terry within is making the kilometres fly by right now,” Darrell told SooToday upon his arrival in the Sault.
Darrell and his team of cyclists had set out from Wawa this morning.
“It was pretty hilly but we're used to it,” Darrell said, describing the terrain in northern Ontario.
“We did the Rockies to start this ride so we found our way through. We had a nice tail wind for most of the ride today and here we are, another 233 kilometres in the books.”
Darrell passed his bicycle journey’s fundraising goal of $1 million on Wednesday.
“That would’ve made Terry very happy, so that makes me very happy right now.”
Darrell said he’s proud that Terry’s 1980 Marathon of Hope raised $24 million for cancer research and that the Terry Fox Foundation has raised nearly $1 billion for cancer research over the last 45 years.
“People are living longer with cancer and they're surviving cancer because of the investment we've made in cancer research. It's hard at times because I'm dealing with loss. Terry died of cancer and I can't change that but what I can change is the future and that was Terry's message to us in 1980.”
At 17, and with special permission to graduate from high school a month early, Darrell joined Terry on his run in 1980. Now 62 and living in Chilliwack, B.C., he is a senior advisor with the Terry Fox Research Institute.
Darrell was greeted by a group of well-wishers upon arriving in the Sault, many of them sharing their memories of seeing Terry run through the Sault and area in 1980.
“When Terry came through Desbarats when I was a kid in school, we got to run a short distance with him and I’ve remembered that my whole life. When I found out about Darrell cycling I knew I had to be here. This is amazing that he is doing this for his brother. It’s pure love,” Carol Trotter told SooToday.
Others expressed similar words of admiration for the Fox brothers.
“I think it's wonderful what Darrell has set out to do. This is what real heroes are,” said Christine Nenonen.
“Terry really raised the bar on awareness of cancer and that it's really important for people to donate, to continue trying to find a cure. I think Darrell is a wonderful man. He continues to give his brother all the credit and I think it's wonderful. He looks so much like his brother. This is something to see,” said Susan McLean.
Darrell said he appreciates the memories of Terry that people have shared with him since he started his journey.
“I’ve had so many people come up and say they saw Terry in 1980. They came here just to share that memory with me in the Sault today. That means the world to me. It really does. I absorb all those stories and it makes this adventure that much more epic.”