Sunday marked the 40th anniversary of Terry Fox visiting Niagara Falls during his Marathon of Hope in 1980.
Wayne Thomson, who was mayor at the time, said he still vividly remembers greeting Fox at city hall.
“He was very bright and very articulate,” recalled Thomson.
Thomson, now a city councillor, said during his five decades as a public official, he has met countless prime ministers and celebrities, but never someone as “important and impressive” as Fox.
“Probably the most important event that I had during my public life. He was very impressive, and what has happened in the last 40 years, and what he accomplished regarding research into cancer, and the money that has been raised across Canada is second to nobody else.”
Niagara Falls resident Les Potapczyk, who has been involved in the local Terry Fox Run since 1989, said the Canadian icon was flown to a Niagara airport on July 12, 1980, the day after his triumphant gathering at Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto where thousands of people came to see and hear him.
Potapczyk said the reason Fox wanted to come to Niagara Falls was to see local basketball star Jay Triano, who he went to school with at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia.
Fox also spent the day with Steve Iorio, who also had lost his leg to osteosarcoma, the same cancer as Fox had, said Potapczyk.
Potapczyk said unfortunately not many people showed up to hear Fox speak in front of city hall.
He said the announcement Fox was coming to the city was only made that morning.
Thomson said the way he remembers it, he received a call “I think the same day” of the visit and that initially, Fox was only going to visit other people and places.
When he heard Fox was going to visit city hall, Thomson said he “only had a few hours to try to get the information out.”
At that time, there was no social media that could help drum up interest in a public event like there is today.
“It was a very pleasant event,” said Thomson.
“I was impressed enough that after, I had a bronze plaque put up in front of city hall recognizing Terry Fox visiting Niagara Falls and his phenomenal run for cancer.”
Potapczyk said “sadly” all the Terry Fox Runs across Canada this year will be done virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Events are scheduled for Sept. 20.
Last September, about 700 people took part in the Niagara Falls event.
The annual Terry Fox Run, held across Canada and around the world, has taken place every year since September 1981 and raised more than $750 million for cancer research.
It honours Fox, who began his cross-Canada Marathon of Hope in 1980 to raise money for cancer research after losing his right leg to the disease.
Fox died on June 28, 1981, at the age of 22.
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Potapczyk said when he got involved in the local run, he never thought the event would become as successful as it has.
He said the Niagara Falls run still has its die-hard “believers,” people who support Fox’s vision and “know that he’s just a phenomenal brand for cancer research in Canada.”
Potapczyk said while a virtual run presents a “real challenge” when it comes to fundraising compared to an on-site event, he remains hopeful it will be another successful year.
