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Farewell, Betty Fox

A public funeral service is planned for Saturday in Port Coquitlam to remember the life of a tireless crusader for cancer research, Betty Fox.
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Betty Fox speaking at the hometown run in PoCo in 2009.

A public funeral service is planned for Saturday in Port Coquitlam to remember the life of a tireless crusader for cancer research, Betty Fox.

The mother of the late Terry Fox passed away peacefully June 17.

The funeral will be held at 1 p.m., June 25 at Trinity United Church.

A book of condolences has been made available at the Port Coquitlam recreation complex at 2150 Wilson Ave. to the end of June.

People may also express their condolences online at www.terryfox.org.

Terry died on June 28, 1981, after he was forced to halt his cross-Canada Marathon of Hope. With no time to grieve, Betty accepted a role in developing the Terry Fox Run, which later evolved into The Terry Fox Foundation, according to a statement on the foundation’s website.

She was involved in all aspects of the foundation, ensuring her son’s name never became too commercialized, and spoke to an estimated 400,000 school children over 25 years touring the country. She’d end every speech with the words: “Never, ever give up on your dreams.”

Born in Manitoba, Betty was active and athletic growing up. She married Rolland Fox in 1956. A decade later, the family moved West to Surrey, B.C., and later settled in Port Coquitlam, before moving to Chilliwack in 2003.

Betty is survived by husband Rolly, three children Fred, Darrell and Judith, and their spouses, and grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Terry Fox Foundation.

– Cloverdale Reporter