So, you want to teach your kids about a real Canadian hero? Not the kind in capes and tights, but the kind in a grey track suit with a limp and a heart the size of a mountain. I’m talking, of course, about Terry Fox.
Talking to my own kids about Terry was one of those parenting moments I was secretly dreading. How do you explain cancer, amputation, and an unfinished journey to little people who are currently fighting over the last blue popsicle? But here’s the thing: Terry’s story isn’t really about sadness. It’s about grit, determination, and the unbelievable power of one person to inspire a nation. It’s about hope and courage.
I found that the best way to teach them wasn’t through a heavy history lesson, but through doing. So, if you’re looking for ways to introduce your kids to this incredible story, I’ve got you covered. Here are 7 Terry Fox Activities for Kids that focus on the hope and courage he represented.
Ready to make a hero come alive for your kids? Let’s get into it.
1. The Marathon of Hope Map Quest
Okay, this first activity is a must-do. You can’t talk about Terry without talking about the sheer scale of what he attempted. I mean, the guy planned to run across the entire country. On one leg. With a prosthetic that pounded against his stump with every step. Ouch.
Why a Map is the Best Visual Aid
Grab a big map of Canada—the bigger, the better. If you don’t have one, a quick search for a printable map online works perfectly. Pin it up on a wall or lay it out on the kitchen table.
First, show them where you live. Then, find St. John’s, Newfoundland, where Terry dipped his leg in the Atlantic Ocean to start his run. That’s a pretty powerful image right there.
- Mark the Start: Put a star on St. John’s.
- Trace His Route: Use a marker to trace his path through all six provinces. This is where it gets real for them. They can actually see the distance.
- The End Point: Mark Thunder Bay, Ontario. This is where his run stopped.
I always get a little choked up at this part. You can show them that he made it over 5,300 kilometers. Let that number sink in for a minute. Over 5,300 kilometers. Ask them: Could you run that far? The answer, of course, is a resounding no, which makes his accomplishment even more mind-blowing for them. It visually demonstrates the impossible thing he was trying to do, driven only by his hope for a world without cancer.
2. The “One Dollar from Every Canadian” Math Challenge
This is a brilliant way to make his goal tangible, and it sneaks in a little math practice (don’t tell them!). Terry’s original goal was to raise one dollar from every Canadian.
At the time, the population was around 24 million people. That’s a big, abstract number. So, let’s break it down for them.
Calculating Hope, One Person at a Time
Ask your kids: How many people are in our family? Let’s say it’s four. That’s four dollars. Then, ask them to count how many families live on your street. If there are ten houses, that’s forty dollars. See where I’m going with this?
- Start with your family. How much would that be?
- Move to your street. How much now?
- What about your whole school? If there are 300 kids, that’s $300!
This exercise shows them that a whole bunch of small things add up to something massive. It transforms a huge, impossible goal into a series of achievable steps. Terry didn’t set out to raise millions; he set out to get one dollar from one person, and then another, and then another. It’s a powerful lesson in how hope, backed by action, can create a tidal wave. FYI, this little math game is a great car ride activity, too. Beats asking “Are we there yet?” for the hundredth time. 🙂
3. Write a Letter of Courage
Terry received thousands of letters during his run. Imagine being in pain, running through rain and wind, and then opening a letter from a kid who says they’re cheering for you. That had to be a major boost.
This activity is all about empathy. It’s about putting yourself in someone else’s shoes—or in Terry’s case, one shoe and a special running prosthetic.
What Would You Say to a Hero?
Ask your kids to write a letter to Terry. It doesn’t matter that he’s not here to read it. The act of writing is for them.
- For younger kids: They can draw a picture of him running. Maybe a picture of him with a big Canadian flag.
- For older kids: Encourage them to really think. What would you say to someone who is in pain but keeps going? Would you tell him a joke? Thank him? Tell him about someone you know who had cancer?
This isn’t about perfect spelling or grammar. It’s about connecting with the idea of courage. It’s about asking them, “What does it feel like to be brave?” and then letting them express that. You might be surprised by what they come up with. We did this last year, and my son wrote, “I hope you know you are faster than a cheetah, even on one leg.” I’m not crying, you’re crying.
4. Plan Your Own “Terry Fox Run” (It Can Be Fun!)
Of course, the most direct way to participate is to run. But for a lot of kids, the idea of “running a marathon” sounds about as fun as a trip to the dentist. The key is to make it their own.
It Doesn’t Have to Be a Marathon
Every September, schools and communities hold Terry Fox Runs. They are a fantastic tradition, but you can also create your own family version anytime you want to talk about hope and courage.
- Choose Your Distance: It doesn’t have to be a specific length. It can be a lap around the backyard, a loop around the block, or a trip to the local park and back. The distance doesn’t matter. The effort does.
- The “Prosthetic” Challenge: For one lap, have everyone hop on one foot. This is a real eye-opener. It’s hard! It gives them a tiny, tiny glimpse into the physical challenge Terry faced every single day for 143 days. I tried this with my niece and nephew, and we were all a giggling, falling-over mess within ten seconds. But it sparked a real conversation about how tough he must have been.
- Set a Goal: Before you run, set a small fundraising goal as a family. Maybe it’s collecting spare change from the car and couch cushions. Or maybe it’s a challenge to see who can do the most chores to earn money to donate.
The goal is to get them moving and thinking about why they are moving. It’s turning passive admiration into active participation.
5. Read “The Story of Terry Fox” Together
There are some fantastic books out there about Terry for all age groups. My personal favorite for younger kids is “Terry Fox” by Maxine Trottier (part of the “Scholastic Canada Biography” series). The illustrations are beautiful, and it tells the story in a way that is honest but not overwhelming.
Finding the Right Story for Their Age
Curl up on the couch and read it together. Don’t just rush through it.
- Pause and ask questions: Why do you think he wanted to do this? How do you think his leg felt?
- Look at the pictures: The images of him running alone on the highway are incredibly powerful. Ask them what they think he might be thinking about.
- Focus on the helpers: Talk about the people who helped him along the way—the family who gave him a place to stay, the police who escorted him, the people who handed him a dollar bill from their car window.
This shared experience creates a safe space for them to ask their own tough questions about illness and loss. It also shows them that hope isn’t a solo act. It’s a community project. IMO, reading a book together is one of the most powerful bonding activities you can do as a parent.
6. The “One Step at a Time” Art Project
This is a simple, hands-on craft that visually represents Terry’s philosophy. He didn’t think about running across Canada; he just thought about putting one foot in front of the other.
Creating a Visual Reminder of Perseverance
You’ll need some construction paper, markers, and scissors.
- Trace Their Feet: Have your kids trace their own feet on different colored pieces of paper and cut them out.
- Write on Them: On each paper foot, ask them to write down a “step” or a goal. It could be something big, like “help find a cure for cancer.” It could be something small, like “be nice to a new kid at school” or “finish my math homework.”
- Create a Path: Tape the paper feet to the floor in a winding path from one room to another, or even up the wall.
Now they have a physical path of hope. They can literally walk the path and read the steps. It’s a constant, quirky reminder that big changes happen by taking small, consistent actions. Every time they walk past it, they’re reminded of Terry’s journey and their own power to make a difference. It’s also a fun way to decorate the house for a while! :/
7. Cook a “Terry’s Energy” Snack
Let’s be real, running 42 kilometers a day requires some serious fuel. This is the tastiest activity on the list, for sure. Talk to your kids about what Terry might have needed to eat to keep his energy up.
Fueling Up Like a Hero
He needed complex carbs for long-lasting energy, protein for his muscles, and a whole lot of calories. You can brainstorm some healthy, energy-packed snacks together.
- Trail Mix (“Terry’s Mix”): This is a perfect symbol of the Marathon of Hope. It’s a mix of many different things that come together to create something powerful. Let your kids create their own mix with ingredients like:
- Pretzels (for the salty crunch)
- Dried cranberries or cherries (a sweet, Canadian twist)
- Nuts or sunflower seeds (for protein)
- Dark chocolate chips (for a little hope and courage, obviously!)
- Banana “Prosthetic” Pancakes: Make pancakes and cut a banana in half lengthwise. Put the pancake on a plate and place the two banana halves underneath it at the bottom, propping it up like a prosthetic leg. Okay, it’s a bit of a stretch, and honestly, it looks more like a sad pancake on banana crutches, but it’s hilarious and the kids love it. The conversation starter is, “What gave Terry his energy?”
While you’re mixing and munching, you can talk about determination. It’s a super low-pressure way to continue the conversation, and it ends with a delicious treat. Win-win.
So there you have it. Seven ways to bring the incredible story of Terry Fox into your home, not as a dusty fact from a history book, but as a living, breathing lesson in hope and courage.
We’re not just teaching our kids about a runner. We’re teaching them that one person, with enough heart, can start a movement. We’re showing them that courage isn’t the absence of fear or pain, but the decision to keep going despite it. And we’re reminding them that hope is a verb—it’s something you do, one step, one dollar, one letter at a time.
Now, go grab a map, some markers, or a bag of pretzels, and start the conversation. Terry would be proud.
