The 2025 Terry Fox Run will be the 45th anniversary of the Marathon of Hope.

By Tommy Osborne

Terry Fox Run

Leukemia survivor reflects on importance of Terry Fox Run ahead of 45th annual run

Aug 20, 2025 | 4:09 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – The 45th annual Terry Fox Run is only one month away, as it will take place on September 14 at Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park. And among the many expected participants is Ken Whitney, a leukemia survivor who started “The Ken Project,” to fundraise for anyone else who may be in a similar situation he was in.

“It’s a great way to create awareness about cancer. Not only my form, but everybody else who’s struggling with it, and it’s a great way to raise money for research, which is what led to my treatment to be possible,” Whitney said.

His leukemia diagnosis came three years ago quickly and without warning, but he says both local doctors and doctors in Vancouver had an incredible response time to address the leukemia quickly. That response, on top of medications to prevent his body from producing cancerous cells, has thankfully left him in good health to return to his family and a normal life.

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“Without all the research that came way before I was ever diagnosed, I wouldn’t be in this position today. I wouldn’t be able to carry on and rejoin my work and my life and my family nearly the same,” Whitney said.

The last 45 years has seen the Terry Fox Foundation help fund research for cancer care and support anyone who may have cancer, and “The Ken Project” hopes to further aid the fight against cancer.

“All credit goes to my wife, she came up with the idea as a way to help to pay costs for what we were doing at the time, but also to give money back to BC Cancer to pay it forward and allow more research to be done,” Whitney said.

The money raised through the annual Terry Fox Runs has helped many community members like Whitney, and Prince George run organizer Sylvia Masich says that’s what the run is all about: continuing Terry’s legacy and helping community members who need it.

“I got a text message from a friend saying she’s going through cancer treatment right now, and she learned that her clinical trial that she’s going through right now is being funded by the Terry Fox Foundation. So that money that we’re raising at the run, it’s helping people in Prince George who are going through cancer treatment. It’s helping people in northern B.C. going through cancer treatment, and it’s changing outcomes for people,” Masich said.

“The most important thing is not letting the legacy of Terry Fox slow down. It’s more and more important as time goes on, to allow the medical community to research more and more into cures and treatments, so it’s a great way to keep the ball rolling,” Whitney said.

Masich is looking forward to this run, as the milestone of the 45th anniversary is a notable moment she’s excited to celebrate.

“This year marks 45 years since Terry Fox started his Marathon of Hope on April 12, 1980, and this also marks the 45th year that the Terry Fox runs have been happening in September, because on September 1, 1980, when he wasn’t able to continue his run, lots of people came together and they said, ‘okay, we’re going to start doing Terry Fox runs, because even if Terry can’t finish it, we’re going to continue his legacy,'” Masich said.

Registration is already open for the Terry Fox Run, and you can register on the Terry Fox Foundation’s website HERE.

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