[BCMA] Terry Fox exhibition offers deeply personal look at his life and legacy

[Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv.]

February 8, 2017

Terry Fox exhibition offers deeply personal look at his life and legacy

VICTORIA, BC-The Royal BC Museum is marking Canada's 150th birthday this year with a major new exhibition about a national hero and his inspiring Marathon of Hope.

Terry Fox: Running to the Heart of Canada opens April 12, 2017- exactly 37 years to the day the young British Columbian dipped his prosthetic leg in the Atlantic Ocean at St. John's, Newfoundland, and set off a cross-country Marathon of Hope to raise money for cancer research. When he was forced to stop 143 days later, after the cancer that had claimed his leg returned, Terry had run 5,373 kilometres (3,339 miles)-roughly the same distance as Paris to Cairo-and captured the imagination of the nation. It was a journey that Canadians would never forget.

The feature exhibition, which continues until October 1, 2017, is developed by the Canadian Museum of History and the Terry Fox Foundation. It offers the most comprehensive look at Terry's life the public will likely encounter, and is the first time his belongings, including many deeply personal items such as his journal, have been assembled in one place.

"Terry Fox lives in the hearts and minds of many people in Canada and indeed around the world," said Prof. Jack Lohman, CEO of the Royal BC Museum. "These very personal items will evoke much emotion and respect, inspiring all of us and the good work that flows from it."

Visitors will be greeted by the iconic Ford E250 Econoline van that provided shelter for Terry on his journey. This presentation at the Royal BC Museum is the only opportunity for Canadians to see the van as part of the exhibition, apart from its original display at the Canadian Museum of History.

The story of the Marathon of Hope is told through photographs, newspaper imagery and personal mementos. The exhibition includes a day-in-the-life of the run, Terry's Marathon of Hope t-shirts, cards and letters sent by Canadians, the heartbreaking end of the Marathon, and the thrilling story of Terry Fox's ongoing legacy.

The exhibition also explores Terry's impact on modern Canadian life and his unique place in our collective memory-the numerous schools, community centres, and features of the landscape named for him, the Canadian coins, stamps and passports bearing his image.

People can engage with the exhibition online at #RBCMTerryFox to share their memories of Terry Fox and impressions of the exhibition.

The Marathon of Hope began with little fanfare on April 12, 1980 when Terry began his grueling marathon-a-day cross-country run to raise money for cancer research. His determination, courage and integrity soon drew the attention-and won the hearts-of Canadians from coast to coast to coast. He died a national hero in June 1981, aged 22, having collected some $24 million-achieving his goal of raising $1 from every Canadian. During the past 37 years, close to $700 million has been raised in Terry's name for cancer research.

Family: Bonds and Belonging (#RBCMFamily)
Terry Fox's family set an inspiring example of the incredible strength of family bonds. The Royal BC Museum has created a complimentary feature exhibition, Family: Bonds and Belonging (#RBCMFamily) to explore the concept of family, inviting interactions and emotional responses from visitors about the bonds that keep families together. The exhibition opens June 2 and runs until October 31.


About the Royal BC Museum
The Royal BC Museum explores the province's human history and natural history, advances new knowledge and understanding of BC, and provides a dynamic forum for discussion and a place for reflection. The museum and archives celebrate culture and history, telling the stories of BC in ways that enlighten, stimulate and inspire. Looking to the future, the Royal BC Museum will be a refreshed, modern museum, extending its reach far beyond Victoria as a world-class cultural venue and repository of digital treasures.

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Media Contact:
Royal BC Museum Media Inquiries
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Photos available upon request.



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