Terry Fox

Terry Fox running on the highway

Terry Fox was born on July 28, 1958 in Winnipeg Manitoba and raised in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, a community near Vancouver on Canada's west coast. He went to Simon Fraser University. Terry loved to play sports like soccer. He also like to play basketball, but the coach thought he was too short. Terry worked very hard and made the team.

Terry dipping his leg in the Atlantic Ocean

Terry got cancer in his right leg, so he had to have his leg amputated just above the knee. He felt sad because he wanted to play sports. It was hard for him to play sports with just one leg. He joined a wheelchair basketball team. He was inspired by Dick Traum, a man who ran in the New York Marathon on just one leg. He decided to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research. This was a challenge for Terry. He was very competitive and always competed with his brothers and this was a good challenge for him. Terry's heroes are Bobby Orr and Darryl Sittler.

Terry receiving the Order of Canada

Terry trained for the Marathon of hope for a long time. He started his run in Newfoundland and ran all the way to Thunder Bay. When he got to Thunder Bay, he had pain in his chest. He had to stop running because he had cancer in his lungs. Terry was honoured by the government of Canada for his bravery. He was the youngest person ever to receive the Order of Canada. Terry died in June 1981.

He ran the Marathon of Hope to try to raise money for cancer research. Terry helped make the world a better place by raising money so that other people could survive. Despite the fact that Terry passed away, the whole world still celebrates the Terry Fox Run. Every September, schools and communities celebrate Terry Fox by running. At our school, we run around the school track to honour Terry.

The whole world thinks that Terry Fox is a hero, especially me. I am inspired by Terry because he was very brave to run across Canada. He was determined to play sports even when he was told he was too small. I hope that when I grow up, I can be a hero to others as well.