Yellowknife (Sep 22/04) - On April 12, 1980, at only 21 years of age, Terry Fox became a Canadian Hero. Dipping his prosthetic leg into the Atlantic Ocean, Fox began his arduous journey across Canada.

With his sights on the Pacific Coast, he set out with a goal of raising money to fund research for cancer - a disease that was ravaging Canadians. Fox was diagnosed with bone cancer when he was 18 and lost part of one leg.

Fox's Marathon of Hope was an inspirational demonstration of human determination and spirit.

Running a 42 km marathon each day, Fox pushed the limits of human endurance to new heights.

He battled harsh conditions, a broken prosthesis and the cancer that continued to attack his body as he made his way across country. Fox captured our hearts. We began to believe he was unstoppable.

Then, 143 days into his trek, Fox's journey was cut short when the cancer spread to his lungs.

Nine months later the young man died.

But before his death he saw his dream of raising $24 million - $1 for every Canadian - realized.

Since then, that figure has multiplied to $340 million and continues to grow as Canadians coast to coast and people all around the world have taken up Fox's mission to fight cancer.

Nearly 300 people turned out for Sunday's Terry Fox Run in Yellowknife and organizer Rob McPhee said $29,000 was raised.

"That's about the same amount of money we raised on site last year," he said.

In total Yellowknife raised $42,000 for the cause last year and McPhee said he expects a similar overall result this year.

However, the final tally won't be known for a couple of months, as remaining donations are collected through the banks.

"Over all we're pretty happy. The run went off well. We had 300 participants and, given the weather, that's pretty good," said McPhee.

Yellowknife's Karin Stinson was one of the people who braved Sunday's weather. She took up the cause from virtually the moment Fox was forced to quit.

Stinson has participated in every Terry Fox Run since the first organized nationwide event in 1981.

Living in Tsiigehtchic at the time Terry Fox started his Marathon of Hope, she remembers how inspirational he was to her.

"At the time technology there wasn't what it was today. If we were lucky we got some radio broadcasts from Fort McPherson," said Stinson.

Through those radio broadcasts she was able to catch snippets of Fox's run.

That was all it took for her, like many Canadians at the time, to become mesmerized by Fox's courage.

"I followed the whole story. He became central in my day to day life," she said.

The events surrounded a monumental time in Stinson's own life, the birth of her first child.

It was a short time after that when Fox died.

"It was so powerful. I began questioning if I should be bringing kids into the world," she said.

"I felt like I knew him just from the little radio reception we got from Fort McPherson."

Legacy seems eternal

But bring children into the world she did and they became the next generation of Terry Fox supporters, following a legacy that seems eternal.

"This is my first year running without them; they are all off to university now," she said.

Yellowknife has always been faithful in its support for the Terry Fox Run.

Almost every year the event is plagued by bad weather and this year was no exception.

Snow, sleet, rain, wind and low temperatures made being outside torturous.

But that didn't stop 300 Yellowknifers from bundling up and taking part.

"It's not about weather. We'd be wimps if we didn't go out in weather like this, especially considering what he (Fox) did," said Stinson.

And, as in Fox's day, Canadians still have something to run for.

"We walk for my mom's dad because he died of cancer. I think it's pretty special," said Timmy Dittrich, a seven-year-old out with his family.

Fox's legacy is still strong in Canada and you can bet it will stay strong for generations to come.

"I am here because he was a great a person and to get out and run for the cause even though it's cold," said Olivia Carmichael, 9.

Carmichael and Dittrich were only two of many children participating this year.

Although both were too young to have been around when Fox began the Marathon of Hope, they are evidence that his inspiration lives on.

"He ran 42 km a day. I think that's amazing," said Carmichael.