Dana Fox reaches the finish line at the Georgina Marathon. CTV News
A 66-year-old man from Waterloo, Ontario, is defying the odds despite facing a rare and aggressive cancer diagnosis. Dana Fox was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma, a form of bile duct cancer, in November of last year. After receiving this devastating news, he began treatment in December, embarking on a battle for his life.
Cholangiocarcinoma has notoriously low survival rates, and Fox was given a grim prognosis. "They told me I wouldn’t make it past October this year," Fox shared. However, instead of succumbing to despair, he decided to fight with everything he had. One of the ways Fox stayed active and hopeful was through physical challenges. Earlier this year, he participated in the Ride to Conquer Cancer, even as he continued his treatments.
But Fox wasn’t done yet. Despite the toll the treatments were taking on his body, he set his sights on another major challenge: qualifying for the Boston Marathon. "Wouldn’t it be great if we could do another marathon?" Fox thought. That’s when he signed up for the Georgina Marathon, a grueling 42.195-kilometer race that many would consider too intense for someone battling cancer. However, for Fox, this was as much a mental challenge as it was physical.
Fox admitted that while he’s still undergoing chemotherapy and continues to have a tumor on his liver, he wasn’t about to let that stop him. "I’m still in treatment, so it’s not like, ‘Well, it’s over and I know it’s all better.’ It’s not better. I still have a tumor on my liver," he explained. Yet, with incredible determination, he completed the marathon, crossing the finish line with seven minutes to spare.
"I did it with seven minutes to spare. So it’s like, ‘Hey baby, we’re back on the bus. We’re going to Boston,’" Fox joyfully declared. Qualifying for the prestigious Boston Marathon is no small feat, especially for someone facing such health challenges, but Fox is now set to run in the race in April 2025.
While finishing the Georgina Marathon was a major achievement, Fox's journey is far from over. His battle with cancer continues, but he remains focused on staying active, not just for himself but for others who have been touched by cancer. "The folks that are here and the folks that have gone," Fox said, holding back tears. "The folks that had cancer and didn’t make it, I do this for them."
In that spirit, Fox will be participating in Waterloo’s Terry Fox Run, honoring the legacy of Terry Fox, a Canadian hero who inspired the nation with his Marathon of Hope to raise awareness for cancer research. Fox hopes to spread the message of perseverance and strength, urging others to "just keep running."
"No matter what," he concluded.
