Public funeral set for Terry Fox's mom, Betty planning, weekend, against, limited, service

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Public funeral set for Terry Fox's mom, Betty

A public funeral will be held this weekend for Betty Fox, the woman credited with keeping her famous son's crusade against cancer alive.


The service will be held at Trinity United Church in Port Coquitlam, B.C., on Saturday.


Because of limited space at the church, the family has asked those planning to attend to email [email protected].


Fox died last week at the age of 73.


Her son Terry became known around the world for running more than 5,000 kilometres in an attempt to cross the country after losing a leg to cancer.


Diagnosed when he was 18, Terry set out two years later on his cancer-research fundraiser. He left St. John's in April 1980, and ran 42 kilometres a day until he was forced to stop near Thunder Bay, Ont., when cancer appeared in his lungs. He died on June 28, 1981, at age 22.


Fox inherited at least some of his fighting athletic spirit from his mother, who was born in Boissevain, Man., and grew up playing organized baseball and hockey, according to a statement announcing her funeral.


After high school, she moved to Winnipeg, where she met and married Rolland Murray Fox in October of 1956.


Ten years later they settled in Port Coquitlam, B.C., with their four children.


After Terry's death, Betty led her family in picking up and carrying on with his legacy, renowned author Douglas Coupland recently told Postmedia News.

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"It was Betty — and I don't know the moment — (who) realized, 'Oh dear, this is my duty in life, this is my role,' " Coupland said. "Betty became, also in the process, Canada's mom."


It's estimated Betty Fox spoke to more than 400,000 schoolchildren during her 25 years of touring the country.


The final words of every speech were: "Never, ever give up on your dreams," her obituary noted.


In lieu of flowers, the family asked that donations be made to the Terry Fox Foundation.


The foundation says more than $550 million has been raised worldwide for cancer research through the annual Terry Fox Run, which today is held across Canada and around the world.


Betty Fox is survived by husband Rolly, three children Fred, Darrell and Judith, and nine grandchildren.


Betty Fox died last week at the age of 73.