Remembering an inspiring Canadian runner

It’s been more than a month since the passing of Waterloo, Ont.’s Dana Fox, yet across Canada’s running community, his inspiring presence lingers, encouraging others to continue moving forward with hope.

Fox passed away on Oct. 23 at 67, after a two-year battle with stage 4 cholangiocarcinoma–one of the rarest and most aggressive forms of cancer, which forms in the bile ducts. He is survived by his high-school sweetheart Carolee (Hallman), his children Erin and Jordan and his granddaughters Alara and (baby) Dana.

A mission built on hope

In October 2023, Fox was handed a terminal diagnosis, given just 12 months to live. But he never lost hope.

He launched his own podcast, Running With Hope, wrote a book, Surviving Cancer Marathon: Strategies for Cancer Recovery, Inspiration and Wellness, and filmed a documentary, which is set to premiere during Cancer Week in February 2026.

In April, at 66, he ran his ninth Boston Marathon, finishing in five hours and 36 minutes, just four months after completing his second round of chemo. Speaking with Canadian Running, Fox said he had no plans to slow down; he intended to run the 2025 New York City Marathon and had his sights set on the Canadian M65-69 marathon record (two hours, 54 minutes).

It was hard not to believe him, since he had already proven what most considered impossible. At Boston 2023, just six months before his diagnosis, Fox, at nearly 65, ran a 3:23 marathon. “After he was diagnosed, he refused to take any of the doctor’s initial recommendations to go home and get his affairs in order,” his son, Jordan, told Canadian Running. “Instead, he qualified again for Boston right around the time the oncology team was telling him he would be gone–and you’re darn right that this was on purpose.”

How to describe Dana Fox?

Among words like thoughtful, energetic, optimistic, driven, curious and a dreamer, Fox’s children describe him as someone who led by example. “Anyone with any contact with my dad came away feeling motivated,” Erin said. “Or, at the very least, thinking a little more positively than before.”

Jordan describes his father as “larger than life,” someone who “oozed” optimism and positivity and dreamt big. “He only played games with the largest dreams possible,” Jordan said.

“I’ve had hundreds of people tell me that because of Dana, they feel they have no excuse to tackle hard things in their life,” Jordan added.

Sharing his mantra

Fox never failed to spread hope to those who needed it, to those dealing with illnesses or cancer, specifically. “You can’t run a race without hope,” was one of his favourite sayings.

According to Erin, “Keep swinging!” was another–encouragement to continue pushing forward because you don’t know what you might find. “You never know what is around the corner,” Erin said. “A new study, a new treatment previously unavailable in North America, another point of view.”

The events that mattered most

Although there were many important and meaningful events for Fox, the Georgina Marathon, Boston Marathon and Ride to Conquer Cancer were closest to his heart. “The Boston Marathon was like a pilgrimage for other people from the same tribe, those who had the inner grit and reasons to do something as crazy as a marathon,” Jordan said, explaining why Fox completed the race nine times in his life and was looking forward to many more.

Local community running events and track clubs, including Tri City Track Club, which Fox was part of for more than 20 years, were also important to Fox, as was Toronto’s Princess Margaret Cancer Centre.

Honouring Dana Fox’s legacy

You can honour Fox’s life or show your support in the fight against cancer by donating to Team Dana for the Ride to Conquer Cancer or to Princess Margaret Hospital. The running community is also encouraged to join them next June in participating in the Ride to Conquer Cancer as part of Team Dana.

“Pay it forward and keep the ripples going,” Jordan said. “Do it in the smallest and most everyday way possible while dreaming as big as you can for you, your family, community, country and the world. Go do big things.”

“Most importantly, everyone should get out for a run,” Erin said. “Join a club, support a local race. Show up. Try hard. Enjoy the ride. Keep swinging.”

In memory of Cleveland Dana Fox, 1958-2025.