Terry Fox

Terry Stanley "Terry" Fox, CC (July 28, 1958 – June 28, 1981) was a Canadian humanitarian, athlete, and cancer treatment activist. He is considered one of Canada's greatest heroes of the 20th Century.

Related Topics:
CC - July 28 - 1958 - June 28 - 1981 - Canadian - Humanitarian - Athlete - Cancer - Activist - 20th Century

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Terry Fox was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and was raised in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada. After losing his right leg at age 20 to Cancer, the young athlete decided to run from coast to coast in order to raise money for cancer research. Beginning by dipping his leg in the Atlantic Ocean at St. John's, Newfoundland on April 12, 1980, aimed to dip it again in the Pacific ocean at Vancouver, British Columbia. His pace was daunting. He ran an average of 42 km a day — the distance of a typical marathon. No one had ever done anything similar to the task Fox was undertaking.

Related Topics:
Winnipeg - Manitoba - Port Coquitlam - British Columbia - Cancer - Raise money - Cancer research - Leg - Atlantic Ocean - St. John's - Newfoundland - April 12 - 1980 - Pacific ocean - Vancouver - Km - Marathon

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He could not finish his run, however, as the cancer spread to his lung and he was forced to abandon the course on September 1, 1980 just north-east of Thunder Bay, Ontario after 143 days, running 5,373 km (3,339 miles) through Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec, and Ontario. A few days later, Canada's CTV network telecast an impromptu telethon to raise money for cancer research and to, in spirit, keep Fox's Marathon of Hope going. Many Canadian and Hollywood celebrities took part in the event which raised more than C$10 million.

Related Topics:
Thunder Bay, Ontario - Newfoundland - Nova Scotia - Prince Edward Island - New Brunswick - Quebec - Ontario - CTV - Telethon - Hollywood - C

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Despite the setback, Fox wasn't ready to admit defeat, and on several occasions in the fall of 1980 there were reports that the runner might be well enough to resume his marathon.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Terry Fox died on June 28, 1981 at the age of 22, one month before his 23rd birthday. However, his Marathon of Hope captured the nation's attention. He was proclaimed a national hero, and the annual Terry Fox Run events organized all across Canada, in the United States, and in other countries around the world, have raised more than $400M for cancer research.

Related Topics:
June 28 - 1981 - Marathon of Hope - National hero - Terry Fox Run - Canada - United States

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Fox's heroism has inspired other Canadians to similar feats in the name of charitable causes. This has included Steve Fonyo, another runner who also had a leg amputated owing to cancer and who retraced the same route as Fox and then proceeded to complete the run to the west coast in the name of cancer research. A close friend of Fox's, Rick Hansen, a paraplegic athlete, was also inspired to make his own trek around the world in his wheelchair to raise funds for spinal cord injury research.

Related Topics:
Steve Fonyo - Rick Hansen - Paraplegic - Wheelchair - Spinal cord

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

His story is dramatized in the 1983 HBO TV movie, The Terry Fox Story, which the Fox family always has criticized as being too negative as it depicts Terry as having a fiery temper. In 2005 a new movie produced by the CTV television network retold his story, titled simply Terry. Fox was portrayed by Shawn Ashmore.

Related Topics:
HBO - TV movie - CTV - Shawn Ashmore

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1982, British singer/songwriter Rod Stewart wrote the song Never Give Up On A Dream, off the album Tonight I'm Yours, as a tribute to Terry's Marathon of Hope. Proceeds from the song went towards cancer research - towards Terry's undying cause.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Today, artifacts such as his artificial limb are preserved by the BC Sports Hall of Fame and Museum. His shoes have also been preserved.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Mt. Terry Fox in British Columbia, near Valemont, is named after him.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In a public opinion poll Terry Fox was voted the most famous Canadian of the 20th century. He was voted number two on The Greatest Canadian list.

Related Topics:
Famous Canadian - The Greatest Canadian

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~