Terry Fox

Terry represents strength and never gave up trying to make a difference. Terry (Terrance Stanley) was born in Winnipeg on July 28,1958. His parents are Betty Fox and Rolly Fox. Judith, Darrel and Fred Fox were his siblings. In 1976 Terry had a car accident that left him with some pain in his right knee, by the end of that year the pain intensified and that's when at age 19 in 1977 he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma. Terry had to get his leg amputated. He was an avid runner and played basketball in high school, so he continued to run with an artificial leg and even played wheel chair basketball in Vancouver.

Terry wanted to raise awareness to help fund cancer research. He began to train for a marathon and started a fund called the Marathon of Hope. He ran the marathon in April of 1980 starting in Newfoundland. He hoped to raise 1 million dollars but then said it would be better to raise $1 for every 24 million of Canada's people. His close friend Douglas Alward supported him on his journey cross Canada. Residents of the towns Terry passed through had cheered him on and many companies donated supplies such as runners and fuel and a van for him to use. Terry refused to have anyone profit from his marathon. By the time he reached Montreal he was one-third into his 8000 km journey and had raised $200,000. That entire running took a physical toll on his body but he refused to stop even on his birthday. By September Terry was forced to end his run (after 143 days and 5,373 kilometers) in Thunder Bay. He was having chest pains and had discovered his cancer spread to his lungs and by then he had raised $1.7 million. Donations continued to pour in and by that following April had raised $23 million.

Terry Fox was the nations Hero, his journey lasted nine months before his cancer spread and he passed away June 28 1981. His efforts reached worldwide. There were many monuments and roads named after him. The annual Terry Fox Run, first held in 1981 and is the biggest one-day fundraiser ever done for cancer research with over $500 million dollars raised to this day. There are two movies made about Terry Fox one in 1983 biopic The Terry Fox Story. Another movie made in 2005-titled Terry. The Marathon of Hope inspired many other marathons for cancer research. Terry Fox, will always be remembered and his efforts encourage hope always.

My overall view about Terry and his family accomplishments encourage me to wake up every day and try to make a difference with the people around me. Everyone should offer to help others in their communities, schools and workplace. We can make a difference no matter what struggles we may face.

Terry Fox outdoors (How I see Terry (Jihad Issa created this picture.))