Commemorating Terry Fox

Conceptual Drawings

April 12, 2010 marks the thirtieth anniversary of Terry Fox's legendary Marathon of Hope cross-Canada run to raise money and awareness for cancer research. Terry started his run at the east end of St. John's Harbour on property owned by the St. John's Port Authority. The Port Authority, in association with Parks Canada and the City of St. John's, are developing a lasting commemoration to Terry's legacy. The commemorative garden / marker site is subdivided into three parts:

Part 1, the Origin Point marks the location where Terry actually started his run. A tapered walkway leads the visitor from the parking lot into a circular space that is framed along the east side by a semi-circular sloping wall. A commemorative bronze plaque, a Bas-relief sculptural form of Terry and a quote by Terry are mounted on the curved wall and imbedded in the circular gathering space.

Part 2, Terry's Run, cross-Canada journey is represented by a tapered 12.3 m long stainless steel undulating ribbon, symbolic of the “Marathon of Hope” and Terry's route along the highway from St. John's to Thunder Bay. The sculptural bird forms positioned at the ascending leading end of the ribbon represent Terry's legacy of the leveling or easing of the road for those who follow in the pursuit of the cure for cancer.

Part 3, The Road Ahead, is represented by a small circular space that focuses on a slate stone cairn to mark the end of Terry's run and the beginning of his enduring legacy. Concentric rings of slate flagstones are arranged in the grass to radiate out from the cairn, thus illustrating how Terry's dream continues to affect the lives of millions of people.