Life goal achieved: B.C. man inspired by Terry Fox reaches $1M cancer fundraising goal
Prince George's Jim Terrion has spent over 3 decades raising money for cancer research
After more than three decades of grassroots fundraising, Jim Terrion has finally reached his goal of raising $1 million for the Terry Fox Foundation.
Terrion, who was born deaf, has been raising money for the foundation since 1991. A $5,000 donation he received on June 10 got him across the finish line.
"It's pretty exciting" Terrion said. "There's so much joy and there has been so much work to get this goal. I'm over the top. I just wanted to work toward a cure for cancer."
Terrion said he remembers watching the Marathon of Hope on TV, including the moment Fox dipped his prosthetic leg into the Atlantic Ocean to kick off his journey.
He said he was deeply inspired by Fox's ambition.
In 1990, at the age of 29, Terrion decided to walk across the country to raise awareness for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, which he called the "Silent Walk."
In just eight months, he walked nearly 10,000 kilometres and raised $150,000 for organizations that help people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
The following year he began to fundraise for the Terry Fox Foundation.
Despite challenges communicating as a deaf person, Terrion went door-to-door asking for donations in his home community of Prince Rupert.
He raised $7,586.25 in his first year, and has been fundraising ever since, raising money in both Prince Rupert and Prince George, where he's lived since 2006.
"He's got that determination and dedication exactly like Terry had," said Fred Fox, Terry's older brother.
"He recognized that Terry had a disability. Terry was an amputee. He took from that – although their disabilities are different – if Terry can do something, so could he."
Fred attended the community celebration of Terrion's achievement at the Terry Fox statue in Prince George.
Fox, who was raised in Port Coquitlam, B.C, took part in a road race in Prince George in 1979, which gave him the confidence to start the Marathon of Hope.
Prince George Mayor Simon Yu said it was an honour to officially proclaim the week of June 9 to 15 as Million Dollar Jim Week.
"I know that journey for Jim and for Fred is not going to be over," Yu said. "The walk, the runs, the fundraising will carry on."
Fred Fox said he is thankful for Terrion's work.
"Jim and so many Canadians, people around the world, have taken up the challenge Terry gave us and he'd be so proud to know that Jim has reached this goal," he said.
"I think Jim and Terry would be best of buddies today."
With his goal now complete, Terrion said he will continue raising money for cancer research.
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