Terry Fox

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The wise Thomas Jefferson once said, “Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing can help the man with the wrong mental attitude.” That quote definitely applied to Terry Fox. “Terrance Stanley “Terry” Fox was a courageous young Canadian athlete known for his run across Canada, the “Marathon of Hope””(Scrivener). Terry grew up in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia and attended Simon Fraser University. Early on in his life, he was diagnosed with bone cancer causing the amputation of his leg. He attempted his great run to raise money for cancer research. The run covered 3,339 miles in 143 days before he was forced to stop due to the cancer spreading to his lungs. Terry Fox was the youngest person ever to win the Order of Canada award at age 22. His perseverance was amazing because he overcame cancer, something that could have destroyed his life, and accomplished something extraordinary. In my eyes, Terry Fox is a hero because he overcame tremendous obstacles and helped others who had similar hardships. He inspired not only me but all of Canada with his determination to accomplish his dream.

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The will to succeed was so high for Terry Fox, that stopping was not an option when on the verge of accomplishing his life long dream. His perseverance and determination were incredible and he overcame tremendous obstacles. Terry’s close friends questioned his judgment in committing his run fearing that his cancer would return: “In February of 1979, Terry began his training. He invented a unique running style of 2 hops on the left leg and one painful hop on the right leg, repeating it over and over. He began running half a mile a day. Eight months later, he worked up to thirteen and a half miles a day” (Johnson). Throughout his run, Terry ran a full marathon (26.2 miles) everyday for 143 days. This shows that Terry Fox just kept working and training until he thought he was ready for any challenge, physical and mental, that he would face through the “Marathon of Hope”. Terry was determined and his training demonstrated that. He persevered through the pain and was determined to get his run accomplished. Throughout his run, people from all walks of life came out to support him: “Crowds lined the streets throughout towns in Canada to cheer on Terry. He gamely ran in an awkward gait. No complaints, just grit and determination. There was no disney ending for Terry Fox” (Watt). Terry Fox battled many hardships throughout his life including the way he ran. Every time he ran on his artificial leg it would hurt, but he kept fighting through the pain and was determined to get the run done. His integrity compelled him to do many great things until his body couldn’t recover. When Fox ran, his courage soared as he fights the pain. “His determination hardens sores and cysts form painfully on his stump. But he refuses to see a doctor knowing he will be told to quit. No such option can exist in Terry Fox’s mind” (Johnson). Terry Fox persevered through tough times to fulfill his dream. For a 2-legged runner, a run across Canada would be hard enough but to be like Fox and even attempt to run across the country with an artificial leg was special and inspiring. He overcame all sorts of hurdles because of his integrity and will power. His mind was determined and he pursued a life long dream that will always be remembered in the hearts of Canadians.

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Terry Fox persevered, to help benefit others. He wanted to raise 100,000 dollars throughout his run. That was what he had in mind when he started the run, but the odds were definitely against him: “The Marathon of Hope has begun. What chances of success would you give this solitary one-legged of finishing with only $400 in pledges and dreams of raising as much as $100,000 dollars?”(Johnson). Terry did his run for one reason, to raise money for cancer research. He had bone cancer (osteogenic sarcoma) which caused his leg to be amputated. Terry understood what cancer could do to a person, he had experienced it first hand and that is why he attempted his run. He wanted to raise money for cancer research, and raise awareness of its affect on people. Even though Terry Fox died at the hands of the cancer, his name and foundation still raise money for research. “The annual Terry Fox Run, first held in 1981 has grown to involve millions of participants in over 60 countries and is now the world’s largest one-day fundraiser for cancer research; over C$500 million has been raised in his name” (“Terry Fox.”). Terry has helped others with cancer by raising this money. This money was and still is being used for research to find a cure for cancer that everyone can benefit from. He has grown into a world-wide figure and his foundation has spread internationally over the years. The more Terry suffered, the more he wanted to help others. Thats what defines a person or a hero. Everyone has downfalls, everyone takes blows and suffers, but its how that person regains themselves and gets back up that defines them. That is certainly what Terry Fox did. He suffered, he fought through pain but he made a difference and helped others benefit from his suffering. He died and sacrificed himself to help others so they hopefully won’t have to suffer as he did. Terry Fox was a true hero.

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Overcoming obstacles was one reason, helping others another, but most of all Terry Fox was a hero because he inspired many people. “The whole nation wept the passing of this 22 year old who had inspired Canada with his will to succeed, his drive, his self sacrifice and, most of all, his willingness to suffer for his dream” (Johnson). People respected Terry for all those traits. Those traits were characteristics that make Terry Fox a hero. He inspired people so much that another Canadian decided to do the sam thing. “Fox’s run inspired Steve Fonyo, another Canadian who had lost a leg to cancer. In 1985, at the age of 19, Fonyo completed a 14-month, 4,924-mile (7,920 kilometer) run across Canada” (Scrivener). He was an inspiration to many people throughout the world. Steve Fonyo had the courage to run the same thing Fox had run under the same circumstances. That is a tribute to how much of an inspiration Fox was to Fonyo. Fox overcame great hurdles and raised a lot of money for cancer research which shows the hero status that Terry deserves. He was, and will always be, a hero. Terry Fox is living proof that nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude.