Terry Fox

By: Brittany H.

The run

In 1980, he began the Marathon of Hope, a cross-country run to raise money for cancer research. Fox hoped to raise one dollar for each of Canada's 24 million people. He began with little fanfare from St. John's, Newfoundland, in April and ran the equivalent of a full marathon every day. Fox had become a national star by the time he reached Ontario; he made numerous public appearances with businessmen, athletes, and politicians in his efforts to raise money. He was forced to end his run outside of Thunder Bay when the cancer spread to his lungs. His hopes of overcoming the disease and completing his marathon ended when he died nine months later.

On June 28, 1981 Terry Fox(aged 22) died in the hospital in New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada. On June 28, 1981 more than $24 million dollars were raised, and it was caused by Terry’s death. On Sept. 19, 2010, the 30th annual Terry Fox Run was held. So far, the event has raised over $553 million for cancer research. And it has gone global. In 2008 alone, more than two million people in 28 countries took part in Terry Fox runs.

“Even though I'm not running anymore, we still have to try to find a cure for

cancer. Other people should go ahead and try to do their own thing now.” –

Terry Fox

• Terry was an 18 year old student who played on the school’s basketball team at the time in 1977 he was diagnosed with bone cancer that resulted in the amputation of his right leg six inches above the knee. After undergoing chemotherapy and seeing other people, particularly children, suffering with cancer, Terry decided that he wanted to make a difference in the world, he wanted to do something to help cure this dreadful disease.

• The Marathon of Hope began on April 12, 1980 in St. John's Newfoundland.

• He ran 26 miles per day, 7 days per week. He ran for 143 days, Imagine how sore your legs would be.

• Terry ran from St. John's Newfoundland all the way to Thunder Bay, but around the Thunder Bay area Terry was forced to stop running from the cancer the had come back and spread to his lungs.

• Terry fox raised hope and brought people together to rerun this marathon of hope and raise money for the cure for cancer.

• He inspired many people around the world, and helped raise a lot of money.

• Still to this day we are collecting the millions brought by each new year and new marathon because of Terry.

“I don't feel that this is unfair. That's the thing about cancer. I'm not the only one, it happens all the time to people. I'm not special. This just intensifies what I

did.” - Terry Fox

“Some people can’t figure out what I’m doing. It’s not a walk-hop, it’s not a trot, it’s running, or as close as I can get to running, and it’s harder than doing it on two legs. It makes me

mad when people call this a walk. If I was walking it wouldn’t be anything.” – Terry Fox

Even though Terry Fox was in pain, and had cancer spreading to his lungs he still did the impossible, the thing no one else would do.

I believe he was a great leader and hero, he brought more attention to people that cancer wont just go away, you need to fight it and find a cure.

“It’s one thing to run across Canada, but now, people are really

going to know what cancer is.” – Terry Fox

• Determining what causes cancer is complex. Many things are known to increase the risk of cancer, including tobacco use, certain infections, radiation, lack of physical activity, poor diet and obesity, and environmental pollutants. These can directly damage genes or combine with existing genetic faults within cells to cause the disease. Approximately five to ten percent of cancers are entirely hereditary.

Cancer is the disease caused by an uncontrolled division of abnormal cells in a part of the body.

Fox remains a prominent figure in Canadian folklore. His determination united the nation; people from all walks of life lent their support to his run and his memory inspires pride in all regions of the country. A 1999 national survey named him as Canada's greatest hero, and he finished second to Tommy Douglas in the 2004 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation program The Greatest Canadian. Fox's heroic status has been attributed to his image as an ordinary person attempting a remarkable and inspirational feat.

Others have argued that Fox's greatness derives from his audacious vision, his determined pursuit of his goal, his ability to overcome challenges such as his lack of experience and the very loneliness of his venture. As Fox's advocate on The Greatest Canadian, media personality Sook-Yin Lee compared him to a classic hero, Phidippides, the runner who delivered the news of the Battle of Marathon before dying, and asserted that Fox “Embodies the most cherished Canadian values: compassion, commitment, perseverance". She highlighted the juxtaposition between his celebrity, brought about by the unforgettable image he created, and his rejection of the trappings of that celebrity. Typically amongst Canadian icons, Fox is an unconventional hero, admired but not without flaws. An obituary in the Canadian Family Physician emphasized his humanity and noted that his anger—at his diagnosis, at press misrepresentations and at those he saw as encroaching on his independence—spoke against ascribing sainthood for Fox, and thus placed his achievements within the reach of all.

Interesting facts

• Terry Fox was the first non-royal person to appear on a Canadian coin in 2005.

• He loves wrestling!• If terry fox was to stand up in his grave, he would

be facing west, the direction to finish his marathon.• He died one month before his 23rd birthday in 1981• He is a national hero in Canada. There are

numerous streets, parks, buildings, and schools named for him.

• Terry's favorite color was green.• Terry’s girlfriends name was one letter off from his

name, Jerry• Fox was a distance runner and basketball player for

his Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, high school and Simon Fraser University. His right leg was amputated in 1977 after he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, though he continued to run using an artificial leg. He also played wheelchair basketball in Vancouver, winning three national championships.

The map of where he ran

• Newfound land – Ontario (Thunder bay)

April 12: 0 kmSt. John's, NFApril 21: 346 kmGander, NFDay 15: 542 kmSouth Brook Junction, NFMay 6: 882 kmPort-Aux-Basques, NF1,234 kmHighway 7, NSMay 15: 1,278 kmSheet Harbor, NSMay 20: 1,373 kmDartmouth, NSMay 26: 1,728 kmCharlottetown, PEIMay 29: 1,865 kmHighway 2, west of Moncton, NBJune 6: 2,214 kmBristol, NBJune 7: 2,256 kmPerth-Andover, NBJune 11: 2,426 kmHighway 185, QC2,592 kmHighway 20, QCJune 15: 2,663 kmQuebec City, QCJune 23: 2,917 kmMontreal, QCJune 28: 3,030 kmHawkesbury, ONJust outside of Ottawa, ON: 3,113 km August 27: 5,153 kmTerrace Bay, ONSept 1: 5,373 kmThunder Bay, ON

Resources

• http://www.terryfox.org/Foundation/The_Terry_Fox_Foundation.html

• http://www.google.ca/webhp?hl=en• http://www.betterworldheroes.com/pages-f/fox-terry-quotes.htm

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cancer• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_Fox