British Columbia

Terry Fox Day in B.C. to start Sept. 2015

B.C. Premier Christy Clark presented the Terry Fox Day proclamation to the Fox family on Thursday at the B.C. Legislature.

Second Sunday after Labour Day will honour B.C. man who began Marathon of Hope for cancer research

Terry Fox on his Marathon of Hope in 1980. (Therapy Content)

Once the legislation presented today goes through, the second Sunday after Labour Day will be known as Terry Fox Day in B.C.

The day has has traditionally been the day of the annual Terry Fox Run, which is a fundraiser held in towns and cities across the province and across the country.

Premier Christy Clark presented the Terry Fox Day proclamation to the Fox family Thursday in Victoria.

Terry Fox, creator of the Marathon for Hope, attempted to run across Canada to raise funds for cancer research. (Chuck Stoody/Canadian Press)

"The thing I think that was so typical about Terry that I love, the most of all of his purposefulness and determination is how humble he was and how humble all of you've been in carrying on his legacy," she told them.

"You never make this about lionizing Terry, although he deserves to be, you make it about solving a problem."

Fox, who lost a leg to cancer, began a run across Canada to raise money for cancer research. He died in 1981 before being able to complete his Marathon of Hope.

Since his death in 1981, the Terry Fox Run has raised more than $600 million and has become the world's largest one-day fundraiser for cancer research.

Once the legislation becomes law, the first official B.C. Terry Fox Day will be Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015.