Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Canada Newfoundland and Labrador St. John's Marathon of Hope Mile 0

Marathon of Hope Mile 0

Where a young athlete began his run across Canada after losing his right leg to cancer.

St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador

Added By
Thomas Harper
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Terry Fox, dipping his leg into the Atlantic Ocean.   thomasharper / Atlas Obscura User
Mile 0 Marker.   thomasharper / Atlas Obscura User
A quote from Terry Fox.   thomasharper / Atlas Obscura User
St. John’s Port Authority (memorial is behind this building).   thomasharper / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Terry Fox, a young athlete who lost his right leg to cancer, trained to run the length of a marathon (26.2 miles) every day for as long as it took to run across Canada. What became known as the Marathon of Hope inspired the nation and raised money for cancer research. In the easternmost city in Canada, St. John's, Fox began his epic run.

Fox planned to run across Canada to raise funds for cancer research after being inspired by other young cancer patients he met during his own treatment. After finishing a 17-mile race on his artificial leg, Fox began preparing to run across the vast distances of his home country.

He would start the Marathon of Hope here, at the bustling and historic St. John's Harbour, near the end of Water Street. He dipped his artificial leg into the waters of the Atlantic Ocean on April 12, 1980, and set out from there. He ran across the island of Newfoundland, following the Trans-Canada Highway. Moving with a hop-step gait, he would run the length of a marathon each day. As he continued through eastern Canada, the Marathon of Hope became a sensation and donations poured in. Fox’s goal was to raise $1 for each Canadian citizen, amounting to a total of about $24 million.

However, his  journey would not be finished. On September 1, outside of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Fox fell short of breath and could not run anymore. The cancer that had originally taken his right leg had spread to his lungs. The athlete, who at that point had raised $1.7 million, was forced to end the Marathon of Hope after 143 days and 3,339 miles of running. He entered treatment once more, but the cancer continued to spread. Fox lost his battle with the disease and died on June 28, 1981 at the young age of 22.

Fox captivated the Canadian people and gained worldwide recognition. Pope John Paul II even sent him a telegram offering his prayers while the athlete was fighting for his life after the cancer returned. Though he didn’t consider himself disabled, he’s credited with elevating the visibility of disabled people within national discourse.

The Marathon of Hope continues to inspire Canadians and others around the world today. Terry Fox Runs are held in many Canadian cities and towns, and donations for cancer research in Fox's name have reached over $650 million. Numerous cities throughout the country feature statues of Fox running, and some towns have even named streets after him. The statue in St. John’s, where it all began, shows Terry with his feet in the waters of the harbor, commencing his epic journey to make life better for those still fighting cancer.

Related Tags

Memorials Death Statues Races Disease Amputation Disability

Know Before You Go

The memorial is behind the St. John's Port Authority Building, pictured above. There are some free public parking spaces on the road into the Port Authority parking lot, as well as pay parking along Water Street.

Community Contributors

Added By

thomasharper

Edited By

mjcooke1985

  • mjcooke1985

Published

September 21, 2017

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUYCu1Z_GnA
  • http://www.terryfox.org/terrys-story/marathon-of-hope/
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_Fox
Marathon of Hope Mile 0
2 Water St
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Canada
47.570987, -52.698171
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Signal Hill

St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador

miles away

Apothecary Hall

St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador

miles away

The Blue Whale at the Core Science Facility

St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of St. John's

St. John's

Newfoundland and Labrador

Places 4

Nearby Places

Signal Hill

St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador

miles away

Apothecary Hall

St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador

miles away

The Blue Whale at the Core Science Facility

St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of St. John's

St. John's

Newfoundland and Labrador

Places 4

Related Places

  • Tokyo, Japan

    Kimi-Chan

    This sculpture bears a tragic backstory that may have inspired a hauntingly beautiful children's song.

  • Johann the last goat.

    Cushendun, Northern Ireland

    'Johann'

    A memorial to a goat culled during a foot and mouth disease outbreak guards a series of fantastical caves.

  • Pre’s Rock.

    Eugene, Oregon

    Pre's Rock

    A memorial for the mustachioed record-setting runner.

  • The statue of a frail girl is a tribute to the millions of children who perished.

    Kyiv, Ukraine

    Holodomor Victims Memorial

    The haunting complex honors the millions of Ukrainians who died in the forced famine under Soviet rule.

  • Cedar City, Utah

    Nellie Pucell Unthank Memorial

    A monument to a survivor of harsh pioneer life, frostbite, and primitive surgery.

  • The Griffin Monument

    Silver Plume, Colorado

    Griffin Monument

    This cliffside memorial marks the final resting place of a lonely violinist.

  • A statue of famed numismatist Chet Krause in his hometown of Iola, Wisconsin.

    Iola, Wisconsin

    Chester L. Krause Legacy Park

    This rural park in central Wisconsin honors one of the world’s most prominent numismatists.

  • A bronze statue of a golden retriever holding two flags in its mouth.

    Ashland, Massachusetts

    Spencer the Marathon Dog Statue

    This sculpture is dedicated to a local therapy dog who later became the official mascot of the 126th Boston Marathon.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.