Committed to the cause: Chatham man set for 43rd Terry Fox Run

Chatham hasn’t hosted a Terry Fox Run in a few years, but that doesn’t keep Pat McMahon from supporting the cause.

Sunday will be the 43^rd time the Chatham resident takes part in the annual cancer research fundraiser begun after Fox’s cross-Canada Marathon of Hope ended near Thunder Bay on Sept. 1, 1980. After more than four months and 5,370 kilometers, the one-legged runner was too ill to keep on going.

McMahon was returning to Lakehead University in Thunder Bay during Fox’s Marathon of Hope and listening to Fox’s progress on the radio. “I was about 20 minutes behind him and I thought, ‘I’m going to catch up to this young guy.’ ”

But McMahon, who’d planned to stop and offer a donation and encouragement when he caught up to Fox, heard on the radio that Fox had been taken to a Thunder Bay hospital with a cough.

Fox never resumed his run and died on June 28, 1981.

McMahon, who has had relatives go through cancer, said, “I see the benefits they get from the advancements and treatments and medicines (from cancer research).”

People with cancer survive a lot longer thanks to what the Terry Fox Run has supported, he added.

“I took it upon myself that is something I can do,” McMahon said. “As long as I am able to walk or cycle. . . and I’ve included my family and my pets in a lot of the runs.”

McMahon said he was impressed by Fox’s perseverance that included getting up early, sometimes in terrible weather, even when he initially hadn’t received much recognition or donations during the Marathon of Hope.

“For him to get up that many days and do the equivalent of a marathon every day on one leg – and that hop, skip that he did – it’s inspiring to see that dedication,” McMahon said.

He also liked the fact Canadians continue to rally to support the Marathon of Hope.

McMahon continues to support the Terry Fox Run by participating in the Dresden event, which is consistently recognized as one of the top fundraisers per capita in Canada.

“It’s a fun event and a real family-oriented group that puts it on,” McMahon said.

People can support the cause by joining one of the local runs across Chatham-Kent, doing their own run Sunday, and donating or supporting other participants at terryfox.org.

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Chatham-Kent Terry Fox Runs

43rd annual Terry Fox Run will be held Sunday

Dresden: Starts at Dresden Legion at 10 am

Wallaceburg: Starts at Civic Park at 10 a.m.

Tilbury: Starts at Tilbury Arena at 11 am

Blenheim: Starts at Memorial Park at 10 a.m.