It’s been greater than a month because the passing of Waterloo, Ont.’s Dana Fox, but throughout Canada’s working neighborhood, his inspiring presence lingers, encouraging others to proceed transferring ahead with hope.
Fox handed away on Oct. 23 at 67, after a two-year battle with stage 4 cholangiocarcinoma–one of many rarest and most aggressive types of most cancers, which kinds within the bile ducts. He’s survived by his high-school sweetheart Carolee (Hallman), his youngsters Erin and Jordan and his granddaughters Alara and (child) Dana.
A mission constructed on hope
In October 2023, Fox was handed a terminal prognosis, given simply 12 months to dwell. However he by no means misplaced hope.
He launched his personal podcast, Working With Hope, wrote a ebook, Surviving Most cancers Marathon: Methods for Most cancers Restoration, Inspiration and Wellness, and filmed a documentary, which is ready to premiere throughout Most cancers Week in February 2026.
In April, at 66, he ran his ninth Boston Marathon, ending in 5 hours and 36 minutes, simply 4 months after finishing his second spherical of chemo. Talking with Canadian Working, Fox mentioned he had no plans to decelerate; he meant to run the 2025 New York Metropolis Marathon and had his sights set on the Canadian M65-69 marathon report (two hours, 54 minutes).
It was exhausting to not imagine him, since he had already confirmed what most thought of unimaginable. At Boston 2023, simply six months earlier than his prognosis, Fox, at practically 65, ran a 3:23 marathon. “After he was identified, he refused to take any of the physician’s preliminary suggestions to go dwelling and get his affairs so as,” his son, Jordan, informed Canadian Working. “As an alternative, he certified once more for Boston proper across the time the oncology workforce was telling him he can be gone–and also you’re darn proper that this was on function.”
How you can describe Dana Fox?
Amongst phrases like considerate, energetic, optimistic, pushed, curious and a dreamer, Fox’s youngsters describe him as somebody who led by instance. “Anybody with any contact with my dad got here away feeling motivated,” Erin mentioned. “Or, on the very least, considering a bit of extra positively than earlier than.”
Jordan describes his father as “bigger than life,” somebody who “oozed” optimism and positivity and dreamt large. “He solely performed video games with the most important goals doable,” Jordan mentioned.
“I’ve had a whole lot of individuals inform me that due to Dana, they really feel they haven’t any excuse to deal with exhausting issues of their life,” Jordan added.
Sharing his mantra
Fox by no means didn’t unfold hope to those that wanted it, to these coping with diseases or most cancers, particularly. “You may’t run a race with out hope,” was one in every of his favorite sayings.
In response to Erin, “Preserve swinging!” was one other–encouragement to proceed pushing ahead since you don’t know what you would possibly discover. “You by no means know what’s across the nook,” Erin mentioned. “A brand new research, a brand new therapy beforehand unavailable in North America, one other standpoint.”
The occasions that mattered most
Though there have been many essential and significant occasions for Fox, the Georgina Marathon, Boston Marathon and Journey to Conquer Most cancers have been closest to his coronary heart. “The Boston Marathon was like a pilgrimage for different individuals from the identical tribe, those that had the inside grit and causes to do one thing as loopy as a marathon,” Jordan mentioned, explaining why Fox accomplished the race 9 occasions in his life and was trying ahead to many extra.
Local people working occasions and monitor golf equipment, together with Tri Metropolis Observe Membership, which Fox was a part of for greater than 20 years, have been additionally essential to Fox, as was Toronto’s Princess Margaret Most cancers Centre.
Honouring Dana Fox’s legacy
You may honour Fox’s life or present your assist within the battle in opposition to most cancers by donating to Crew Dana for the Journey to Conquer Most cancers or to Princess Margaret Hospital. The working neighborhood can also be inspired to affix them subsequent June in collaborating within the Journey to Conquer Most cancers as a part of Crew Dana.
“Pay it ahead and maintain the ripples going,” Jordan mentioned. “Do it within the smallest and most on a regular basis means doable whereas dreaming as large as you’ll be able to for you, your loved ones, neighborhood, nation and the world. Go do large issues.”
“Most significantly, everybody ought to get out for a run,” Erin mentioned. “Be a part of a membership, assist an area race. Present up. Attempt exhausting. Benefit from the journey. Preserve swinging.”
In reminiscence of Cleveland Dana Fox, 1958-2025.