Preparations for the 44th annual Terry Fox Run in September are already taking place seven months in advance.

Fred Fox, Terry’s brother, says for a second year in a row, the Terry Fox Foundation has partnered with Ryan Reynolds to launch a limited-edition shirt. This year’s shirt reads ‘No Matter What’, which is what Fred Fox calls a representation of Terry’s attitude.

“When he was pounding out every one of those kilometres. Forty-two kilometres, 26 miles, a marathon every single day, that’s the attitude he had. ‘No matter what the weather, no matter how big that hill is, I’m going to climb, and we’re going to get this done today.'”

Canadian born celebrity Ryan Reynolds has voiced his views of Terry Fox as a Canadian hero and had a hand in deciding on the design for the shirt. Fox says having that additional reach from Reynolds has allowed Terry’s story to reach a greater audience than ever imagined.

Nearly $900 million dollars have been raised for cancer research since 1980, when Terry Fox first set off on his Marathon of Hope.

Fox says Terry would want to know that the sacrifices he made in 1980 are paying off today.

“Survival rates are so much better than they were 20 or 40 years ago…People need to know that the money that they donate when they participate or sponsor a student in school, a child, a granddaughter, that the money that they’re donating is making a difference. People are surviving their cancer diagnoses like never before.”

Fox says although it is a story of Canadian dedication, Terry’s message had made a worldwide impact.

“I’ve been in Dubai, I’ve been into Doha, Qatar for the Terry Fox Run, Santa Monica, California. Terry’s message of hope and making a difference and making a difference and impacting research in different countries is now worldwide.”

It is estimated that roughly 4 million people take part in the run around the globe each year.

Fox says the shirts can be purchased at terry fox.org, and if ordered now, will arrive in time for April 12th, the day that Canadians can register and start fundraising for the 2024 run.