Bryan Adams has been feeling pretty patriotic, lately. After having released ''51st State'', a tongue-in-cheek clapback at Donald Trump's comments, the Canadian rock star released “The Ballad of Terry Fox” Thursday, a tribute to the athlete whose 1980 Marathon of Hope became one of the most important moments in the country’s history. The song arrives alongside a music video directed by Sean Menard, whose upcoming documentary Run Terry Run explores Fox’s journey and legacy.
Adams recalls being 20 and touring Canada in small clubs when Fox began his cross-country run. He remembers following the story as Fox made his way through the country, including his stop near Thunder Bay on Sept. 1, 1980.
“Thinking back, it was a pivotal time in Canada,” Adams said in a statement. “Without knowing it, Terry gave our slightly fractious country a ‘something’ and ‘someone’ that everyone could agree on and unite behind.”
Fox set out to run across Canada after losing a leg to cancer, hoping to raise money for cancer research. Although he was forced to stop after developing further health complications, his Marathon of Hope went on to inspire a nationwide fundraising movement that continues more than 45 years later.
“The Ballad of Terry Fox” is also featured in Run Terry Run, which includes previously unseen archival footage and previously unheard material. The documentary will premiere at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival before opening in Canadian theatres nationwide on Oct. 9.
