Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire Supports Terry Fox Run to Raise Money for Cancer Research

This September, Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire will once again support The Terry Fox Foundation for its official Terry Fox Run UK.  Participants across the country will come together on September 24, 2023 to walk or run around the estate’s lush Hampshire grounds on a 2k or 5k route in support of cancer research. Registration will open at 12:00 noon for a 1:00 pm start.

Terry Fox Runs, held across the world, are free to enter, non-competitive and open to all abilities in the name of the iconic Canadian Terry Fox.

Alongside the run, participants will have the chance to enjoy live entertainment, refreshments and food in a family friendly environment.  In addition, volunteers will be on hand to give more information about the work of the Terry Fox Foundation in the UK and the Institute of Cancer Research, London.

Terry Fox, a 22-year-old athlete who lost his leg to osteogenic sarcoma, a rare bone cancer, made headlines in 1980 when he ran 3,339 miles (5,374 kilometres) over 143 days across Canada to raise awareness and money for cancer research. Known as the “Marathon of Hope,” Terry had planned to run across the country, but he had to stop sooner than anticipated on September 1, 1980 as sadly the cancer had spread to his lungs.  

During the Marathon of Hope, he averaged a marathon a day every day, with a unique running style as he used a prosthetic leg. He died less than a year later after raising CAD 24 million, achieving his goal of raising 1 dollar for every Canadian at that time.

Inspired by Terry, Four Seasons Founder and Chairman Isadore Sharp personally pledged to Terry’s cause and wrote to 999 other Canadian executives urging them to support cancer research. Sadly Terry succumbed to the disease the following year.

The first Terry Fox Run was organised by Sharp and Four Seasons and held in 1981, and today there are more than 9,000 annual Terry Fox Runs around the world, all volunteer led and organised. To date more than GBP 500 million has been raised.

The UK Terry Fox Association has partnered with The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), one of the world’s leading cancer research organisations, with an unparalleled record of academic excellence in cancer discoveries for more than 100 years. Partnering with the ICR means all the money raised for the UK charity stays in the UK for cancer research.

Those interested in donating for this year’s Terry Fox Run UK can do so here.

Those interested in participating at Four Seasons Hampshire can register for free here and 2023 Terry Fox T-shirts can be purchased with or without registration.  Registration is also available at the run site prior to the run.

Andrew Harrison, General Manager of Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire says: “We are delighted to bring the Terry Fox Run back to Hampshire this September. Isadore Sharp committed to Terry that Four Seasons would host a run every year and it is an honour to continue the tradition. In the last 43 years, more than CAD 850 million (GBP 500 million) has been raised around the world to support Terry’s legacy of raising funds for cancer research.”

Neil Johnson, Chair of the UK Terry Fox Association explains, “We are delighted Four Seasons Hampshire will host a Terry Fox Run in 2023 as in years past.  Since 2020, momentum has been building around this iconic charity event in the name of Canada’s hero, Terry Fox.  We are proud to say that all funds raised in the UK stay in the UK for the world-class cancer research organization, The Institute of Cancer Research.  The generosity of the British people has resulted in raising an incredible GBP 200,000 in the last the years, and we look forward to another successful fundraising year with our partners, Four Seasons Hampshire.”