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Terry Fox
A resident of Port Coquitlam, British Columbia,
Terry Fox was diagnosed with bone cancer at the age of
eighteen in March 1977. His right leg was amputated six
inches above the knee. While in hospital, Terry was so
moved by the suffering of cancer patients that he decided
to run across Canada to raise funds for cancer research.
His journey was called the Marathon of Hope.
It took many months and extraordinary commitment for
Terry’s dream to happen. To begin with he had to figure
out how to walk again, to strengthen his body and,
finally, to run on an artificial leg and a good leg.
After 18 months and over 5,000 kilometers of training,
Terry flew from British Columbia to Newfoundland to
commence his journey.
On April 12th, 1980 Terry dipped his artificial foot
into the Atlantic Ocean at St. John’s, Newfoundland
and began his historic quest to run a marathon a day,
every day, until he reached the Pacific Coast. Along
his route, he encountered high winds, bitter cold,
freezing rain, blistering heat and humidity. Every
day he started at 4:30 am, running in the dark and
the quiet of the morning, which he loved. He was
inspired and overwhelmed by the caring and generosity
of Canadians who supported and encouraged him.
Terry’s fierce determination resulted in his running
an average of 42 kilometers every day for 143 days.
Just outside of Thunder Bay, Ontario on September 1st
Terry was forced to end his marathon due to the spread
of cancer to his lungs. Ten months later Terry died
at the age of 22, on June 28, 1981. Canadians who had
supported him so magnificently were deeply saddened.
Terry left his heroic footprints across 5,373 kilometers
of this country. Terry’s spirit and courage still echo
in the legacy he continues to weave today in the millions
of dollars raised annually, at home and abroad, for
cancer research and in the example he set for all of us
that dreams can come true.
Visit the Terry Fox Foundation.
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