Terry Fox: Canadian Hero

Brandon Yip
Contributor

 

erry Fox had a dream to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research. His dream was doubted by many-—including his family.

But whatever challenges he was faced with, his mental strength pushed him to hyper focus on achieving his goals. He would succeed
no matter what. Fox spoke about his resolve during a 1980 television interview for the program Real People: “| always say to people and it's
true. You can take my other leg away and I'd probably be even tougher than | am right now with one.”

THE ORIGIN STORY

He was born in Winnipeg on July 28, 1958, to parents Rolland and Betty. His siblings include oldest brother Fred, younger brother Darrell,
and younger sister Judith. The family later moved to Port Coquitlam where Fox attended Port Coquitlam Secondary School (which no longer
exists). After high school, he attended Simon Fraser University studying kinesiology from 1976 to 1979.

In March 1977, at age 18, Fox was diagnosed with osteogenic sarcoma—also known as bone cancer. His right leg was later
amputated 15 cm above the knee. The night before his operation, Fox was given a copy of Runner’s World magazine by his high
school coach, Terri Fleming. The publication featured Dick Traum, an amputee who ran in the New York City Marathon in October
1976. Traum’s story provided a source of inspiration for Fox. But in the 2005 documentary, Terry Fox Remembered, Traum would
disclose that when he met Fox's mother years later, she told the truth of how Fox really felt about the marathon runner. Traum recited
Betty's story: “her story is that [Terry] sees this picture of me and he looks at it and he says, ‘If this old guy can run a marathon, | could
run one every day!’” This truly reveals his competitive nature and spirit.

After his operation, Fox would have follow-up treatments for 16 months. During his treatment, the suffering he witnessed at the

cancer ward would have a profound effect on him. “Kids my age and
younger, and you just can’t leave something like that and forget
it,” Fox said in a 1980 television interview with the CBC. In
February 1979, Fox began training for the “Marathon
of Hope” run, accumulating over 5,000 km (3,107
miles) in running distance.
The Marathon of Hope began on April 12
1980, with Fox dipping his right leg into the
Atlantic Ocean near St. John’s, Newfoundland.
He was accompanied by his best friend,
Doug Alward-the driver of their van. The run
had very little publicity in the beginning. But
when Fox entered Ontario, there were more
public appearances that generated more media
coverage; people had now become aware of the
courageous young man from Port Coquitlam.
But on the first day of September in 1980,

after running 18 miles, Fox began
q coughing and complained of
1 }

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  

chest pain. He saw a doctor
and it was discovered that
cancer had now spread
to his lungs. He was
forced to end the
Marathon of Hope
outside Thunder Bay
after 143 days and
having run 5,373 km
(3,339 miles).

      
 

w
"T

CC

You can take my
other leg away and
I'd probably be even
tougher than I am
right now with one.”
- Terry Fox