{"id":904428,"date":"2026-09-21T19:06:11","date_gmt":"2026-09-21T19:06:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/904428\/"},"modified":"2026-09-21T19:06:11","modified_gmt":"2026-09-21T19:06:11","slug":"photos-sudbury-terry-fox-run-participants-say-canadian-hero-still-inspires","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/904428\/","title":{"rendered":"Photos: Sudbury Terry Fox Run participants say Canadian hero still inspires"},"content":{"rendered":"

‘He just wanted to keep going despite the pain, despite people telling him to slow down,’ says participant who also uses prosthetic legs<\/p>\n

Although the Terry Fox Run<\/a> is all about raising funds for cancer research, reaching the $1 billion mark this year, he also acts as an inspiration to those with disabilities.<\/p>\n

One of those people is Megan Stuckey, who, like Fox, uses prosthetics. In her case, she has two prosthetic legs because she was born with limb differences.<\/p>\n

Fox lost his leg to cancer, and famously attempted to run across Canada in 1980 on an off-the-shelf prosthetic leg to raise money for cancer research.<\/p>\n

He was forced to abort his run in Thunder Bay after his cancer spread. Passing away in 1981 at the age of 22, Fox has become a national hero. His legacy continues with the Terry Fox Run, now in its 46th year, and Stuckey was one of those in attendance at Sudbury\u2019s event on Sept. 20.<\/p>\n

Speaking to Sudbury.com while walking in Bell Park\u00a0as part of the event, Stuckey said she was there representing a group called Ability\u00a0in Motion Sudbury<\/a>, which promotes para sports.<\/p>\n

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\nMegan Stuckey and Martin Rheaume took part in the 46th annual Sudbury Terry Fox Run on Sept. 20, 2026. Heidi Ulrichsen\/Sudbury.com <\/p>\n

She said it means a lot that one of our \u201cgreat Canadian heroes\u201d is someone who was missing a leg, that a person with such a visible disability was trying to help humanity.<\/p>\n

But she also admires Fox for the same reasons as everyone else – he was so passionate and determined.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe just wanted to keep going despite the pain, despite people telling him to slow down, despite people saying you’re hurting yourself or you can’t keep doing this,\u201d Stuckey said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe just kept going. I drive up to Thunder Bay a lot for work, and I get to pass the monument of Terry Fox, and so I stop there every year to take a look at it and just remember that that’s how far he went.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sudbury Terry Fox Run organizer Frances Summerhill, who was honoured at the event for her 40 years of service to the runs both in Toronto and then in Sudbury, said Fox’s story teaches\u00a0many lessons.<\/p>\n

Those include “courage, commitment and dedication,\u201d she said. \u201cBut also, so many of us are impacted by cancer. Two out of five Canadians will be diagnosed with cancer this year.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\nSudbury Terry Fox Run co-ordinator Frances Summerhill gets flowers and a hug in honour of her 40 years of service at the event Sept. 20, 2026. Heidi Ulrichsen\/Sudbury.com <\/p>\n

Although 45 years have passed since the young man died, Summerhill said he remains relevant.<\/p>\n

A documentary called “Run Terry Run<\/a>” about Fox’s\u00a0story screened at Cin\u00e9fest Sudbury International Film Festival Sept. 19, the evening before the Terry Fox Run. \u201cIt was wonderful, and it was very well attended,\u201d Summerhill said.<\/p>\n

Canadian musician Bryan Adams also just came out with a new song called \u201cThe Ballad of Terry Fox.\u201d Summerhill said she was also at the recent Adams concert in Sudbury, where he performed the tune.<\/p>\n

That song ends with \u2018He ran for everybody, he ran for me and you,\u2019\u201d she said. \u201cBeautiful.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Summerhill said the Sudbury Terry Fox Run organizers hoped to raise around $60,000 for cancer research on Sunday, with hundreds of people taking part.<\/p>\n

The top individual fundraiser for the local event was Holly Tezlaff, who said she has raised $31,000 for the Terry Fox Foundation.<\/p>\n

She said she\u2019s been doing the Terry Fox Run since she was in a stroller, and her goal to never miss a run began, even when she broke four bones in her foot, \u201cso I had my parents once again push me in a stroller.\u201d<\/p>\n

Inspired by Fox, she decided to go into the field of prosthetics and orthotics.<\/p>\n

\u201cI first shadowed in the field in Grade 10, using my PA days and my March breaks to spend more time in clinics,\u201d Tezlaff said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn 2022, after my undergrad degree in kinesiology, which is the same as Terry Fox. I was accepted into the technical program at George Brown College, and then in 2023, I was just one of eight students across Canada that was accepted into the clinical program for prosthetics and orthotics.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow that journey eventually brought me here to Sudbury Prosthetic and Orthotic design, where I now get to work with patients, fabricate devices\u00a0and work alongside a really incredible team to help people with their mobility, independence and accomplishing their own dreams.\u201d<\/p>\n

She said attending the 46th annual Terry Fox Run, and her personal 27th Terry Fox Run, is \u201cincredibly special\u201d because of \u201cfriends, family, and community members who supported me all these years.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf there’s one thing that you take away from my story today, it’s Terry’s words that have meant so much to me – that dreams are made possible if you try,\u201d Tezlaff said. \u201cI hope you all have a beautiful run today.\u201d<\/p>\n

Heidi Ulrichsen is a reporter with Sudbury.com.<\/p>\n