N.S. man teams up with Terry Fox's brother to bring Canadian icon's run to Ireland - Action News
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Nova Scotia

N.S. man teams up with Terry Fox's brother to bring Canadian icon's run to Ireland

Stew Paterson said Terry Foxs legacy is not well known in Ireland, so he took it upon himself to change that.

This year's Terry Fox run in Dublin raised $27K Cdn for the Irish Cancer Society

People gather for the Terry Fox Run in Dublin wearing T-shirts with a photo of the Canadian icon. (Mark DeRocher)

Living in Ireland for the last few years, Halifax native Stew Paterson felt something was missing every September.

The Terry Fox Run was part of his upbringing and his Canadian roots, but Fox's legacy is not well known in Ireland so he took it upon himself to change that.

On Sept. 17, Paterson partnered with the Terry Fox Foundation to organize the firstTerry Fox Run in Ireland in over a decade.

He reached out toFox's brother, Darrell Fox, whoflew to Ireland for his first Terry Fox Run outside ofCanada.

A man running in red shorts and a white T-shirt with a black and white image of a smiling young man's face.
Darrell Fox at the Terry Fox Run in Herbert Park in Dublin on Sept. 17. It was his first time attending a Terry Fox Run outside of Canada. (Mark DeRocher)

Paterson he hopes more Canadians living around the world can spread the word about Fox's inspiring story.

When meeting a Canadian, he wants people to say, "Oh, I bet you love ice hockey and love Tim Hortons and love maple syrup and love Terry Fox, right?"

"I think his story should be synonymous with being Canadian because it's such a special one," saidPaterson.

Fox, of Port Coquitlam, B.C.,was18 when heembarked on a cross-Canada run to raise money for cancer research in April 1980. The activist, who had a leg amputated after a diagnosis of osteogenic sarcoma, was forced to stop his Marathon of Hopein September 1980 after cancer returned to his lungs. He died on June 28, 1981.

Three men stand in front of a beige van.
Terry Fox, centre, with friend Doug Alward, left, and younger brother Darrell Fox, right, with the Van of Hope in 1980. (Submitted by Darrell Fox)

On Saturday, about 150 people walked, ranor cycled around Herbert Park in Dublin in Fox's memory.

Paterson saidthe group raised 20,000, equivalent to $27,000 Cdn, which will go to the Irish Cancer Society.

Before he moved to Dublin a few years ago, Patersonlived in New York for eight years and helped organize an annual Terry Fox Run in Central Park.

He said Terry Fox'sstory resonates with many because most people know someone who has been touched by cancer, whether in Canada, Dublin, or New York.

Right to left, Darrell Fox, Paterson, and the Canadian ambassador to Ireland, Nancy Smyth, who helped facilitate the event. (Julian Behal)

Paterson's father was diagnosed with cancer a few years ago.

"I'll never forget the moment he first told me," said Paterson.

Darrell Fox, who trailed behind Terry in a van during the Marathon of Hope, teared up Saturday in Dublin as he read an excerpt from Terry's journal and shared the importance of the cause.

"Basically what he said was half of me is Darrell Fox, and the other half is Terry Fox's brother," said Paterson. "I wake up as myself, but then I have to be Darrell Fox, Terry Fox's brother, and people reach out to me and want to hear my stories and get strength from that."

"He said that's something that [he's] been blessed with. It's not a burden," said Paterson.

Ciara Hughes, left, and Claire Bowman from the Irish Cancer Society at the Terry Fox Run on Saturday. (Mark DeRocher)

Darrell Fox said in an interviewthat his brotherwould have wanted his story to be shared around the world because his goal was to eradicate cancer.

"That's what it's all about, raising one more dollar, one more euro for cancer research," he said, adding that he will cherish the memories and experiences of every story he heard in Dublin.

He said in the42 years since Terry died, every kilometreand every dollar has been an investment in lives.

"Nothing makes me happier and prouder to see how many red T-shirts they wear, red T-shirts on run day ...that number is growing every year. That's what it's all about. Lives are being saved and that's what I cherish the most," he said.

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