Terry Fox

I mad it on inspiration (I made it.)

I made this web page on an amazing Canadian, Terrance Stanley Fox, or "Terry". He was born July 28th, 1958 in Winnipeg Manitoba. His parents were Rolly and Betty Fox and he had two brothers and one sister. Their names were Fred, Darrel and Judith. Terry was a very competitive person from the time he was young. He loved to play sports especially basketball. In fact, he'd planned to be a gym teacher when he got older. Being an upbeat person, people liked to be around him and he had a lot of friends growing up. This strong young man had no idea what sort of battle he would have to fight at such a young age. The fact that he was a very determined and stubborn person would help him later in the fight for his life.

I drew this picture (i drew it)

When Terry was only eighteen he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, or bone cancer, in his right leg. The doctors told him that his leg would have to be amputated in order to save his life. When Terry heard this he was devastated but instead of feeling sorry for himself, Terry thought of it as a new challenge. Terry didn't just want to beat cancer for himself but for others too. He once said in a letter to the Canadian Cancer Society, "My quest would not be a selfish one... Somewhere the hurting must stop." His idea was to run across Canada and raise one dollar for every Canadian, twenty-two million dollars. He accomplished this goal even though the cancer was spreading and he had the pressure of millions watching him. This made Terry a remarkable person. Even when he was staring at the face of death he was determined to make it through. He once said, "I believe in miracles, I have to." For most people the prime of their life is when they are young and fit. I think the prime of Terry's life was when he was in the middle of his sickness, during his run and was raising lots of money.

I drew it

Terry had a lot of drive in him. Usually that would help him but some days it would push him over the limit. That's why his mom called him stubborn. This stubbornness took Terry a long way, in fact, it took him 5,280 kilometers across Canada running on one leg. But this stubbornness is also what brought him to the end of his race. The cancer had spread to his lungs and the doctors told him to stop running because it was too much stress on his body. But Terry didn't listen and he kept going. Despite his ferocious determination, his race had to come to an end when Terry got terrible chest pains and a cough that wouldn't stop. He was forced to quit his race in Thunder Bay. Terry returned home to B.C. feeling discouraged, but he soon became the youngest person to be made Companion of the Order of Canada. This is the highest rank a civilian can get.

I made this picture

Terry died with his family beside him on June 28, 1981. There have been many monuments, roads and even a school named after him. I think that is because Terry Fox was a hero. He was a selfless person who cared for others and achieved something that no one thought was possible. Terry was a physically and mentally strong person. His good attitude helped him through chemotherapy, having his leg amputated and the physical pain of his incredible run. He overcame the fear of dying and the stress of learning to walk and run again. This also made him a true hero. In Terry's own words at a news conference he said, "I just wish people would realize that anything's possible if you try." I have learned a lot of life lessons from his example. He was just an average person who had a dream and never gave up on it. Terry's story gives me a reason to try my hardest at everything.