Terry Fox

Terrence Stanley Fox was born on July 28, 1958. Terry has two parents, Betty and Rolly and has three siblings. Two brothers, Fred and Darrel and one sister, Judith. Terry was determined, brave and couragous. His mother said, "Terry is average in everything but determination." I agree with Terry's mother. Terry has inspired me because he will not give up until he achieves his goal. Terry believes in himself, which teaches everyone around him to believe in themselves, which makes him my hero, as well as the community's hero.

Terry's dream was to be a basketball player. However, his junior high school coach advised him to go out for wrestling because he was too short. Terry disagreed with his coach and made the basketball team. It was good he did because he was named 'Co-Athlete of the Year.' In his later career, Terry's dream was to become a Physical Education teacher. Unfortunately, on March 1977 Terry had a malicious tumor in his right leg. He had bone cancer called osteogenic sarcoma. His leg was then removed six inches above his knee. Three weeks after the surgery, he was fitted for an artificial leg.

What was Terry going to do now for exercise? Terry was influenced by a one-legged athlete who ran a New York City Marathon. He thought if that one-legged man can run than he could too. So, with this inspiration and his motivation he was off and running. He decided to run and raise money for cancer research and for cancer treatments. Terry ran through Canada in the Marathon of Hope in Februrary, which was 3,000 miles. He ran again in August, in a marathon for Prince George which was 26 miles. During the marathons he raised up to $24.17 million dollars. He even finished after a two-legged person, which shows that both one-legged and two-legged people almost have the same ability to run. Terry wrote, "I'm not a dreamer, and I'm not saying this will initiate any kind of definitive cure for cancer, but I believe in miracles. I have to." This quote shows that Terry will help other people who have cancer. He is helping them and also doing something for himself.

Terrence Stanley Fox is who I most look up to. If I could speak to him right now, I would ask, "How and where did you get this much determination that you have?" If I were to be a hero, I would like to be somewhat like Terry, who has goals and believes he can do it.