Date Range

1980, 1999-2020

Description Level

Fonds

Creator

Bobbie Fox

History Biographical

To raise money for cancer research and increase awareness of the disease that affects people worldwide, Terry Fox, who lost a leg to the disease, committed to running a marathon (42.2 kilometres or 26.2 miles) each day until he crossed Canada. In Newfoundland, Terry began his Marathon of Hope on April 12, 1980. Unfortunately, his cancer returned from remission at the start of September 1980, which ended the Marathon of Hope. On June 28, 1981, Terry passed away. A foundation and an annual fundraising run were created in his name to carry on his legacy. Terry asked that all funds raised through these runs go towards cancer research; thus, the runs are organized by local volunteers to ensure the maximum amount of fundraising dollars are donated. The Lethbridge Terry Fox Community Run Committee, aka the Lethbridge Terry Fox Run Committee, was formed by local volunteers in September 1980 to support Terry’s fundraising efforts in Lethbridge and the surrounding area. The first unofficial Terry Fox Fundraising Run took place in Lethbridge on September 14, 1980. Lethbridge residents continue to organize and take part in runs to raise funds annually. The committee is supported by the Terry Fox Foundation. The Lethbridge Terry Fox Run Committee (LTFRC) handles the organization and management of the Lethbridge Terry Fox Run each year. Run Organizers (ROs) handle recruiting volunteers and participants, soliciting both in-kind and monetary donations, promoting the run and related fundraising events. The ROs follow guidelines issued by the Terry Fox Foundation and all donations received through fundraising are sent to the Foundation. The LTFRC has fluctuated between 1 and 10 members from 1980 to 2020. All members of the committee are volunteers. The Lethbridge Terry Fox Run Committee (LTFRC) would collaborate with local schools to host their own Terry Fox fundraising events. Participating schools handled organizing their runs and events with guidance from the Terry Fox Foundation and help from the LTFRC. To mark the 35th anniversary of the Marathon of Hope in 2015, the Lethbridge School Division held a district-wide run. The LTFCRC would also participate in community events leading up to the Community Run in September to raise funds and awareness. Terry Fox’s uncle has lived in Lethbridge with his family since 1978. Terry was named after this uncle. The Lethbridge Fox family has been heavily involved in the Lethbridge Terry Fox Community runs from the beginning by taking part in the runs or as run organizers.

Custodial History

The records for each run year were kept by the lead Run Organizer (RO) of the Run committee. When the RO retired, the records were transferred to the next RO. There have been 16 ROs from 1980 to 2020. The Lethbridge Terry Fox Run Committee still exists as of 2025. These records only represent the operation of the Lethbridge run from 1980 to 2020 and were donated by the 2020 RO with permission from the Terry Fox Foundation.

Scope and Content

This fonds consists of digital photographs and videos, signage, financial records, meeting notes, correspondence, promotional materials, newspaper and magazine clippings, and venue permits related to the Terry Fox Community Runs that have been held in Lethbridge from 1980 to 2020. Digital images of the Terry Fox School Runs from 2004 to 2015 and personal papers from the Fox family have been included. Fonds consists of the following series: Administration and Marketing; and Digital Media. 2020.1027.002.001: Newspaper and Magazine Clippings - 1981-2018 2020.1027.002.002: Correspondence, guidelines, financials - 1999 2020.1027.002.003: Correspondence, event permit, information sheets - 2000 2020.1027.002.004: Correspondence, event permit, route map, participant list - 2001 2020.1027.002.005: Correspondence, event permit, route map, volunteer list, financials - 2002 2020.1027.002.006: Correspondence, event permit, participant list, fundraising report - 2003 2020.1027.002.007: Correspondence, event permit, meeting notes,volunteer and participant lists, run report - 2004 2020.1027.002.008: 2020.1027.002.009: 2020.1027.002.010: 2020.1027.002.011: 2020.1027.002.012: 2020.1027.002.013: 2020.1027.002.014: 2020.1027.002.015: 2020.1027.002.016: 2020.1027.002.017: 2020.1027.002.018: 2020.1027.002.019: 2020.1027.002.020: 2020.1027.002.021: 2020.1027.002.022: 2020.1027.002.023: 2020.1027.002.024: 2020.1027.002.025: 2020.1027.002.026: Welcome Poster to the 2019 Lethbridge Run (Oversized storage) 2020.1027.002.027: Thank you Poster for the 2019 Lethbridge Run (Oversized Storage)

Notes

Unique Identifiers starting with 2020.1027.001 denote digital media series and 2020.1027.002 denotes the administration and marketing series.

Accession No.

20201027

Collection

Archive

Less detail