‘Everybody knows his name, but they don’t know the details’: Terry Fox’s brother and director on new documentary ‘Run Terry Run’

Canadians have grown up hearing Terry Fox’s story, but the upcoming film Run Terry Run finally takes us behind the scenes of the Marathon of Hope.

From never-before-heard recordings of Terry Fox himself to visuals from his Marathon of Hope, Run Terry Run takes audiences through the journey that led to a billion-dollar movement and cancer awareness.

Director Sean Menard and Terry Fox’s brother, Darrell Fox, joined Now Toronto in the Belvedere Suite to talk about the moments we’ve never seen.

‘Really get to know who he was beyond just this Canadian icon’: Director Sean Menard on telling Fox’s story

Toronto-based filmmaker Sean Menard took on the challenge of representing Terry Fox’s journey while showing his values, heart, and passion beyond the Marathon of Hope.

“I really just wanted to tell the story that I wanted to see. I wanted to see the definitive Terry Fox film,” he told Now Toronto.

Looking back at what had been done in the film industry, Menard felt he wasn’t getting the real deal behind Fox’s journey.

“I wasn’t getting a true sense of what it was like to be there in 1980, to be along the side of the road when he was running by, exerting himself with that walking prosthetic,” he shared.

So Menard decided to make a version he believes showcases the authentic Terry Fox.

“For me, it was just about trying to get immersed as much as we can in that time period, and really get to know who he was beyond just this Canadian icon,” Menard added.

Menard showcased Terry Fox as a Canadian icon that resonates with other Canadians through his values.

“The key is that Terry’s story and Terry’s ideals and who he represented-that’s in our blood as Canadians…And for us as Canadians to be able to say, ‘That’s our guy, that’s what makes us Canadian.’ That’s a beautiful thing,” he shared.

“When you travel to another country, and you tell people where you’re from, and they smile. It’s because you represent these things of humility and hard work, dedication, and selflessness,” Menard added.

‘Everyone knows his name, but they don’t know the details’: Terry Fox’s brother speaks about the movie

Terry Fox’s brother, Darrell Fox, shared what the movie means to him.

“I’m emotional all the time when I talk about Terry, because I was given this incredible gift of being the third member of the Marathon of Hope in 1980, and I witnessed a miracle, and now I’m able to be Terry Fox’s brother every day of my life. What could be better? And this takes it to the next level with this documentary,” he told Now Toronto.

Darrell says Menard’s filmmaking touched him in telling Terry’s story.

Instead of portraying Terry Fox as a “God” or lionizing him, Menard focused on who Terry was and what his journey was.

“I’m incredibly grateful for that because that meant everything to Terry… The more attention he got, the more he ran away from it. He was humble. His humility was his greatest gift,” Darrell Fox said.

Now, the film showcases his true nature.

“Everybody knows his name, but they don’t know the details. And focusing on just the run, and having audio of Terry that we’ve never heard before, and where he’s sharing his vision and his values; he was both youthful, but he had vision and wisdom beyond his years,” he said.

Darrell Fox says he couldn’t have predicted where the foundation is today, but says he knew in the moment he was witnessing something special.

“Terry said, ‘I’m only one member of the Marathon of Hope. The Marathon of Hope better continue without me.’ Well, it has, hasn’t it? And that’s because Canadians picked up that baton, and they were determined not to forget Terry and his vision and his values,” Darrell Fox explained.

To truly discover Terry Fox’s journey and character, watch Run Terry Run in theatres across Canada beginning this Friday, Oct. 9, featuring over 90 reels of never-before-seen audio and video footage from Terry Fox’s 1980 Marathon of Hope.