'He was the ultimate hero': Canadians raise $1M on shirts designed by Ryan Reynolds for Terry Fox Foundation

A special T-shirt designed by the Terry Fox Foundation in collaboration with actor Ryan Reynolds has helped raise lots of money for cancer research—and Canadians love it.

The "dear Terry" shirts have raised more than $1 million in just two months since its launch. The shirt, inspired by thousands of letters that Terry received before and after his marathon, launched on Feb. 19 and more than 28,000 of them have already been sold.

"During a pre-sale launched on February 19 for the limited-edition #DearTerry shirt designed with help from Ryan Reynolds and the Fox Family, more than 28,000 shirts were sold with $1 million raised in support of cancer research in Canada," a statement on the official website said.

"To mark the launch of this year’s Terry Fox Run, Ryan Reynolds has signed one of these limited-edition #DearTerry shirts for a lucky Canadian who registers on launch day, April 12."

The shirt is launched in honour of the "#DearTerry" initiative, which is asking people around the world to submit messages to the organization for a chance to be featured on a commemorative poster.

The Vancouver-born film star, producer and screenwriter also shared an image of himself wearing the shirt on Twitter and Instagram over last weekend, noting he’s taken part in the Terry Fox Run “since second grade.”

On Wednesday, the actor tweeted about how the shirt is helping countless cancer patients and is helping raise a lot of money.

"He was the ultimate hero," Reynolds wrote in his tweet.

Wednesday is the 43rd anniversary of the beginning of Fox’s Marathon of Hope, and the day registration opens for the annual Terry Fox Run.

“Since the Marathon of Hope, it has been incredible to see how Terry has remained a source of inspiration for millions of Canadians and people around the world, many of whom have continued to send in messages sharing their own personal connection,” Terry’s brother Fred Fox said in a news release.

“Every dollar raised by those that join or support the Terry Fox Run will help fund cancer research. It fills our family with joy to see how Terry’s legacy continues to inspire future generations to participate and help realize his dream of a world without cancer.”

"I love my T-shirt": Canadians respond to the Terry Fox T-shirt