The Terry Fox Foundation has launched the “Million Dollar Jim” campaign in partnership with Jim Terrion — also known as “Million Dollar Jim” — to support his goal of raising $1 million for cancer research and the Terry Fox Foundation.
Terrion, a Prince George resident who was born deaf, has dedicated the past 34 years to raising funds for cancer research. He also told The Citizen that he was recently diagnosed with cancer himself, further fuelling his fundraising efforts.
“My passion for Terry Fox’s mission started on April 12, 1980, which is the day I watched him on TV dipping his artificial leg into the Atlantic Ocean in St. John’s, Newfoundland,” said Terrion. “I thought, ‘Terry is disabled, and so am I.’ Born deaf, I recognized that while my disability was different from Terry’s, his determination spoke to me. It inspired me to join him in his pursuit of one day finding a cure for cancer.”
Inspired by Fox’s courage and determination, Terrion launched his own cross-country journey in 1990 at age 29. He called it the Silent Walk and aimed to raise awareness for those with hearing disabilities. He raised a total of $150,000 for organizations supporting the deaf and hearing-impaired.
Terrion is a two-time recipient of the BC Community Achievement Award, receiving the honour in 2006 and 2020. He is also a recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal.
Since 1991, he has raised $969,030 through various methods including fundraisers, door-to-door donations and, more recently, the Terry Fox Foundation website.
His reason for supporting the foundation and its work is simple: he wants to live in a world free of cancer.
Terrion told The Citizen that he recently broke a personal fundraising record, collecting $65,777 in the summer of 2024 — primarily through door-to-door donations and contributions from local businesses and bars.
Even more impressively, he raised $28,298 of that amount in just 15 days in his hometown of Prince Rupert.
He said he is excited to reach his goal and anticipates doing so either this month or next summer.
Terrion added that even after raising $1 million, he will continue dedicating his life to supporting his hero, Terry Fox, and the Terry Fox Foundation
If you are interested in helping Terrion reach his goal visit this website.
