MONTREAL - Some of the courage and tenacity that Terry Fox personified seems to have rubbed off on one of his longtime admirers, who put on a brave battle in the streets of Montreal Thursday.

Eddy Nolan, 55, has been running marathons in tribute to the Canadian hero for 30 years but the one he ran Thursday might have been the most difficult.

Last year, the Roslyn School caretaker was, himself stricken was the same disease that he has worked so hard to raise funds to fight.

Cancer, which already took two of his sisters, forced him into chemotherapy, which has left him with a feeding tube in his stomach.

Nolan has long encouraged students and countless others to participate in the Terry Fox fundraising runs against cancer and suddenly found himself being cheered on by his many admirers as he embarked on a marathon from Montreal West to the Olympic Stadium and back.

"I'm feeling pretty good it's kind of like a magical day for me," said Nolan.

But even on a day when many were thinking of Nolan's courageous run, Nolan was still remembering Terry Fox. 

Among the many stories that Nolan tells to illustrate his hero's character involve Fox's time in hospital.

"When his leg was being amputated in the hospital in BC, Fox cried for the children he saw down the hallway with the helplessness in their face and the children that had terminal cancer," said Nolan.

"With that run and everything else he made us so proud to be Canadian and I just got to do what I have to do for the rest of my life," he said.

Nolan, who has lost 30 pounds since undergoing chemotherapy, said that the kids have given him strength.

"When I was diagnosed with cancer, those kids went right to work the very first day, they had a wacky-hat day, a hot dog sale, and they raised $5,000 in a matter of a few weeks."

Thursday was not meant to be an easy day though.

"I was a bit afraid today, I thought I wasn't going to make it. The legs were tightening up too much and my hips were getting too sore," said Nolan.

But Nolan managed to push through and complete his marathon.

The run was as inspiring to others as it was difficult for Nolan.

Christine Cardinal, a longtime friend of Nolan's, summed up the spirit of the day.

"As we went past Roslyn and saw the 500 kids, I thought one of those kids is going to be inspired and maybe grow up and find a cure for cancer," she said.