A campaign featuring Canadian celebrities sporting a T-shirt with the face of Port Coquitlam hero Terry Fox launched this month.
The Terry Fox Foundation recruited such stars as actor Rachel McAdams, singer Michael Bublé, hockey player Sidney Crosby and Port Coquitlam musician Tyler Shaw to don the limited-edition T-shirts designed by Vancouver artist Douglas Coupland.
Coupland has close ties to the Fox family: Not only did he pen the book Terry, but he also is responsible for the series of growing statues in front of BC Place honouring the hometown hero.
Made of 100 per cent cotton, the 2022 Terry Fox Run T-shirt has a dot-screened portrait of Fox with “I’m Not a Quitter” written on the back or the sleeve; the words are taken from Fox while he was on his Marathon of Hope for cancer research in 1980.
Proceeds from the sale of the T-shirts will continue Fox’s dream of eradicating cancer. To date, the foundation in Fox’s name has raised more than $850 million over the past 42 years for cancer research.
“Terry was one cool dude who never ever gave up, and a world without him is unimaginable,” wrote Coupland in a news release.
“Look at that face: He’s no quitter. You can feel his energy radiating out from his photo like a beacon. He was one in a billion.”
Some of the celebrities participating in the T-shirt drive also wrote online messages in support of the cause, as well as the Terry Fox community runs that take place on Sunday, Sept. 18.
Here are some quotes:
- Musician Alessia Cara: “Every single time I’ve done a Terry Fox Run, I felt that I was a part of something bigger than me. He impacted our country and so many people forever.”
- Author Margaret Atwood: “Terry Fox, a shining example of courage in the face of overwhelming odds!”
- Hockey great Darryl Sittler: “Terry… forever my hero! He continues to inspire me and others everyday.”
- Olympian Penny Oleksiak: “I learned about Terry Fox for the first time in grade school. I remember being super interested in his story as we were taught about his resilience and passion for what he was doing. I think Terry represents what a true Canadian attitude and mentality are, which inspires me to push myself daily knowing how strong willed he was.”
The 2022 Terry Fox Run T-shirts are produced by Adidas, which also made the blue sneakers that Fox wore on his Marathon of Hope.
The T-shirts are available in a variety of sizes and styles that range in price from $25 to $40. Go to terryfox.org to shop online.
