Terry Fox
Terrance Stanley
"Terry" Fox (July 28, 1958 - June
28, 1981) was a Canadian athlete and a cancer research activist who etched his
name into Canada’s folklore by his superhuman efforts. His tenacity and will
power were evident since childhood itself. At the age of only eighteen, Fox, a
good athlete, was diagnosed with cancer and as a result his right leg had to be
amputated. Instead of getting bogged down, he became mentally stronger and
retained his positivity even with an artificial leg. He experienced first-hand
the pains and struggles of cancer patients, and had ever since longed to help
them any way he could. Soon, Fox formulated an ambitious plan of epic
proportions wherein he wanted to traverse the entire length of Canada on foot
to accomplish the dual purpose of raising funds for cancer research, and
inspiring people with disabilities. Running over 43 kilometres (26 miles) each
day, he travelled through Canada, spreading his message everywhere. In a short
time, he acquired celebrity status and succeeded in securing sizeable
donations. At the height of his popularity, his recurring cancer put an abrupt
end to his marathon, subsequently leading to his untimely death. However, Fox
had accomplished far more than what he had hoped for, not only collecting
enough funds, but also making a statement that epitomized the strength of human
spirit.
Childhood and Early Life
Terry Fox was born to Betty Fox
and Rolland Fox. From a young age, Terry was persistent in anything he did and
hated to lose in any sports. He loved to play basketball but wasn’t good at it
till he was in eighth grade. Although his physical education teacher advised
him to take up some other sport because of his low height, Terry persisted.
Gradually, with practice, he became good enough to make the basketball team by
ninth grade. He, with his best friend Doug Alward, was adjudged as 'Co-Athlete
of the Year' in his twelfth grade. In 1976, he took admission at ‘Simon Fraser
University’ to study Kinesiology, the science of body movement, as he aspired
to become a physical education teacher. He also made it to the University
basketball team. In 1977, he was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, a bone cancer due
to which his right leg was amputated six inches above the knee. He was fitted
with an artificial leg and was told by the doctors that his chances of
surviving the cancer were fifty percent. During his treatment in the ‘British
Columbia Cancer Control Agency’, he was troubled when he witnessed the
sufferings of other cancer patients and resolved to help them. He eventually
recovered from cancer.
Later Life
When Fox was in hospital for his
surgery, he read an article about how an amputee had ran in the ‘New York City
Marathon’. He got inspired by the athlete and conceived an elaborate plan to
run across the entire length of Canada to inspire other cancer patients, increase
cancer awareness and raise money for cancer research. In 1979, he began an
intense and painful training for his marathon and ran a total of more than 5000
kilometres (3,106 miles) during the training. He also successfully completed a
43 kilometre (26 miles) marathon in Prince George, British Columbia. In 1979,
he sent a letter to the ‘Canadian Cancer Society’, stating his intentions and
requested them to sponsor the marathon. The society was initially unconvinced,
but eventually agreed to support him after he found other sponsors. He wrote
another letter to corporate companies, asking them to sponsor the shoes, a van
and other costs for the marathon. The companies ‘Ford’, ‘Imperial Oil’ and
‘Adidas’ supported him by donating a vehicle, money for gas and shoes
respectively. Even his family contributed to the funding by conducting garage
sales and dances. In April of 1980, Fox began his ‘Marathon of Hope’ by dipping
his artificial foot in the Atlantic Ocean. His school friend Doug Alward
accompanied him as the van’s driver. He ran about 43 kilometres (26 miles)
every day and during the first few days he had to face strong winds, torrential
rain, blizzards, blisters and even the lack of enthusiastic reception. But, he
was uplifted by his reception at Port aux Basques, Newfoundland, where 10,000
citizens donated more than $10,000 to his cause. Isadore Sharp, the CEO of a
chain of hotels and resorts, whose son had succumbed to melanoma, supported
Fox’s efforts. Sharp initially offered Fox food and accommodation at his
hotels. As Terry became disheartened with the low donations, Sharp encouraged
him by agreeing to donate $2 for every mile that Fox covered. In addition,
Sharp used his business contacts to urge 999 other companies to do the same.
Fox remained in Montreal for a few days so as to reach Ottawa on ‘Canada Day’,
hoping that his timing would help the donations. After passing through Ontario
with a great reception, he reached Ottawa. Here, he met the Governor General
and the Prime Minister and attended many games as a special guest. When he
reached Toronto to a rapturous reception, some distinguished people ran with
him, including NHL player Darryl Sittler. He was honoured at the ‘Nathan
Phillips Square’ and collected over $100,000 as donations on that day. He
attended many more functions and also gave speeches at gatherings. But, the
relentless running affected him as he suffered shin splits, inflamed knee,
tendonitis, cyst formation and dizziness. But, he waived off all the advices to
slow down and continued running at the same rate. On 1 September 1980, he
suffered chest pains and coughing bouts while running in Ontario. He tried to
carry on running but as the pain got worse, he was taken to the hospital. Fox’s
cancer had spread to his lungs. He announced the news in a press conference the
next day and returned to British Columbia for further treatment, thus ending
his marathon. He had managed to generate $1.7 million till now. Soon after he
stopped running, the ‘CTV Television Network’ organized a fundraiser for his
cause. The event was supported by a host of celebrities and managed to generate
$10.5 million as donations in just five hours. The donations continued
afterwards and reached $23 million by April 1981.
Major Works
Fox’s ‘Marathon of Hope’ across
Canada’s length spanned 143 days during which he covered 5,373 kilometres
(3,338 miles). By virtue of his sheer spirit and determination, the event
acquired national and subsequently international importance and raised $24.17
million overall for cancer research.
Awards and Achievements
In 1980, he was bestowed with the
honour of ‘Companion of the Order of Canada’ and became the youngest person to
receive this honour. He won the ‘Lou Marsh Award’ in 1980 as Canada’s top
sportsman for that year. He was chosen ‘Canada’s Newsmaker of the Year’ for
1980, and again for the next year.
Personal Life and Legacy
He breathed his last on June 28,
1981 after falling into a coma. In September 1981, after Fox succumbed to
cancer, the first Terry Fox Run was jointly organized by businessman Isadore
Sharp and Fox’s family. It was a fundraising marathon to raise money for cancer
research. Thereafter, the marathon is held every year and has become an
international event in which people from all over the world participate. Several
buildings, roads, parks and schools in Canada are named in his honour. Seven
statues have also been installed in different parts of Canada. Rick Hansen, the
Paralympic athlete who had inducted Fox into the wheelchair basketball team,
took inspiration from Fox’s endeavours and embarked on a tour himself, called
‘Man in Motion World Tour’. He went around the earth in his wheelchair and
raised more than $26 million in 34 countries. Two films have been made on Fox’s
life, ‘The Terry Fox Story’ and ‘Terry’. While the former was criticised by
Fox’s family for the way it showed his anger, the latter gained more
acceptance.
Terry Fox Run:
The Terry Fox Run is an annual
non-competitive charity event held in numerous regions around the world in
commemoration of Canadian cancer activist Terry Fox, and his Marathon of Hope,
and to raise money for cancer research. The event was founded in 1981 by
Isadore Sharp, who contacted Terry in hospital by telegram and expressed his
wishes to hold an annual run in Terry's name to raise funds for cancer
research. Sharp himself had lost his son to cancer in 1979. The event is held
every year on the second Sunday following Labour Day. Since its inception, it
has raised via the 'Terry Fox Foundation' over $750 million (CAD). The run
itself is informal which means that the distance often varies, usually between
5 and 15 kilometres (3 and 9 miles); participation is considered to be more
important than completing the set distance. There are also runs set up by
schools of every level, often with shorter distances than the
"official" ones.
North America
Canada - First run: September 13,
1981 at 760 run sites across Canada
Cuba - First run: 1998. 2005 at
over 3,600 run sites across the country, totalling 1.9 million Cubans. 2006
reached highest level of approximately 2.6 million participants. 17 March 2007
10th Anniversary run at 4652 sites, totalling 2.267 million participants.
United States
South America
Venezuela - started in 1998 at
the Colegio Internactional de Caracas
Europe
Belgium
Bulgaria - started in 2013 at the
Anglo-American School of Sofia
Croatia (first run in 2000)
Czech Republic
Hungary - held from 1999 to 2005
Ireland
Italy
Netherlands
Poland - First run: 2006
Portugal - First run: 1994
Romania
Turkey
United Kingdom
Middle East
Iraq
Kuwait
Lebanon
Oman - First Run: 2008
Saudi Arabia
Syria - First Run: 1991, Most
Recent Run: 2010 (Stopped because of Syrian Civil War which started in early
2011)
United Arab Emirates
Qatar
Asia Pacific
Australia - First run: September
1988 in Brisbane (legacy from Expo '88) raising $22 000 (AUD)
Bangladesh
China - First run: 1998
India
Hong Kong - First run: 2013
Japan
Korea
Malaysia - First run: early 1990s
in Kuala Lumpur
Pakistan
Philippines - First run: 2001 in
Cebu City
Singapore
Taiwan - First run: 2001 in
Taipei City
Thailand - First run: 1995 in
Bangkok
Vietnam - First run: 1996 in Ho
Chi Minh City and run annually until 2014. In 2014, the Terry Fox Run in Ho Chi
Minh City had an estimated 16,500 participants and the organization committee
includes the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam.
Africa
Kenya
South Africa
Zimbabwe
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