Terry Fox

mind map (mindmeister (me))

I chose to read about Terry Fox because he inspires me. This book is a biography written by Leslie Scrivenne. My book is 190 pages long. Terry Fox was born July 28, 1958. This book started on July 28, 1958. Sadly, on June 28, 1981, he passed away and in 1999 the fundraising that he caused was still going and he probably saved millions of lives with his courage.

Self portrait (I drew it (Me))

Terry Fox was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on July 28, 1958. Terry Fox also grew up in Surrey, British Columbia in 1966 and then Port Coquitlam in 1968. His parents names were Rolland and Betty Fox. He also had 3 siblings: an elder brother Fred, a younger brother Darrell and a younger sister Judith. Terry Fox went to Mary Hill Junior High School, high school at Port Coquitlam, British Columbia and then to university at Simon Fraser University. Terry played soccer, rugby, baseball but he liked basketball the most. One night, November 12, 1976 to be precise, when Terry was driving home and was distracted by the construction of a bridge when Terry hit the back of a pickup truck. He totaled his car but had only a sore right knee, but that pain was still there in December but Terry didn't want to miss out on the basketball season. In March 1977, the pain was much worse and he finally went to a hospital where they discovered that we had osteosarcoma. Terry believed that the car accident made his knee vulnerable to disease. Terry always respected his gym coach and study kinesiology, but whats more important is the people who Terry inspired. Terry always loved basketball and made up for his lack of size with tenacity and determination. Terry was studying to be a gym teacher in university because of his love for sports. Terry got his leg amputated to stop the spread of cancer from his knee. In the hospital Terry watched lots of new friends fall to cancer and this made him determined to make a difference.

Action picture (I drew it (Me ))

Terry suffered from cancer and had to amputate his leg due to cancer in his knee. Terry made an outstanding recovery and was walking with the help of a prosthetic leg in just three weeks. Terry was always a very determined person and received lots of support from family and friends. His determination was sparked while Terry was recovering in the hospital and saw many new found friends fall to cancer and with that Terry was no longer concerned with heated his cancer but beaten cancer for everyone. Witnessing his friends fall, Terry became stronger and determined. If I had to choose just three words to describe Terry I would say he is determined, selfless and dedicated because when Terry sets his sights on something, there a big possibility that he will achieve it. Terry was in a car crash and banged his knee, later to learn that it was the cause of cancer to his and had to amputate his leg. To many this is a weakness but to Terry this was a strength. In 1980 Terry Fox started his journey across Canada to raise money for cancer. They called it the Marathon of Hope. Terry ran city to city and gave speeches. He ran 5,373 kilometers in 143 days but ultimately it cost him his life. His effort resulted in a worldwide legacy, over 600 million dollars in donations to cancer research and an annual run to raise the ever growing amount of donations to cancer. Terry has 32 different roads/streets including the Terry Fox Courage Highway and a statue near the spot where Terry was forced to end his marathon, 14 schools and 14 building named after him, a series of bronze sculptures named after him.

Well, reading this book I learned the bravery of Terry Fox and the impact that he had on the world we live in today. If I could ask Terry three questions I would ask, firstly, what gave you the idea to run across Canada to raise money and finally, if anything, what would have you done differently. I would like to be Terry Fox for his courage and determination but maybe not because Terry's life was not a breeze. He didn't get his accomplishments without hard work, blood sweat and tears. I liked the book because it was well written and about a great person. In this book I learned that with enough determination and effort, just about anything is possible. I think that others would like this book because it's inspiring and it tells you more than just who the public knew him for but who his friends knew him for. I'm very happy I chose this book because it give a sort of confidence because if he can run halfway across Canada with cancer and on one leg, it gets you thinking what you could do. In conclusion I would consider Terry Fox a hero, not only to me but to millions of people around the world.