Terry Fox
Terry Fox was a Canadian athlete and cancer activist known for his remarkable "Marathon of Hope," during which he ran across Canada to raise funds for cancer research. Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, he developed a passion for sports but faced a life-changing diagnosis of osteosarcoma, leading to the amputation of his right leg above the knee in 1977. Inspired by other amputees, Fox decided to run nearly a marathon every day for 143 days, starting on April 2, 1980, from St. John's, Newfoundland. His journey, which covered 3,339 miles, initially garnered little media attention, but as he progressed, public interest surged, culminating in widespread support and donations.
Fox's efforts raised over $23 million for cancer research before his death in June 1981, just months after halting his run due to cancer spreading to his lungs. His legacy endures through the annual Terry Fox Run, which has raised over $700 million globally while inspiring many with his story of resilience and determination. Various honors and memorials, including a foundation, a research institute, and numerous streets and schools named after him, reflect his impact on society. Terry Fox remains a symbol of courage and hope, recognized for his contribution to the fight against cancer and his indomitable spirit.
Terry Fox
Athlete and philanthropist
- Born: July 28, 1958
- Place of Birth: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Died: June 28, 1981
- Place of Death: New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Place of birth: Rotterdam, Netherlands
Education: Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Significance: Terry Fox was an amputee whose run across much of Canada raised millions for cancer research.
Background
Terry Fox was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, and was the second of four children. As a child, he was an enthusiastic athlete with a special interest in basketball. After finishing a college degree in kinesiology with the intention of becoming a physical education teacher, Fox was diagnosed with osteosarcoma (a form of cancer) in his knee.
In 1977, Fox underwent amputation of his right leg above the knee. He then went through a series of chemotherapy treatments. During his treatment, he was overwhelmed when he learned of the large number of people living with–and dying from–cancer. As a result of his experience, he determined to take an active role in helping to fund cancer research.
Fox was inspired by the story of Dick Traum, an amputee who completed the New York City Marathon. Based on Traum’s success, Fox decided to undertake an extraordinary journey of his own: a run across the entire breadth of Canada. Fourteen months later, having trained intensively using a prosthetic leg, Fox began his run.
The initial stages of Fox’s journey were generally ignored by the press. Over time, however, public interest and generosity grew. Isadore Sharp, founder and CEO of Four Seasons Hotel and Resorts, had lost a son to the same disorder that Fox had apparently conquered. Sharp lent his support to the run and encouraged other business owners to give generously.
Fox ran the equivalent of a marathon (about 26 miles) almost every day for 143 days. Finally, outside of the town of Thunder Bay, Ontario, a combination of coughing and chest pain forced him into the hospital. There, doctors discovered that his cancer had spread to his lungs. He had run 3,339 miles.
Fox died of cancer nine months after ending his run. During that period, he received a number of honors, including Companion of the Order of Canada. Public interest in his cause increased; his efforts also led to increased donations to cancer research. By the time of his death, Fox’s run had raised over $23 million, including major gifts from the governments of British Columbia and Ontario.
Life’s Work
Terry Fox’s most significant contribution was completed in the space of only 143 days, during which his Marathon of Hope gained national and international recognition. The run began on April 2, 1980, on the Atlantic coast in St. John’s, Newfoundland. There, he filled two bottles with sea water; one, he would keep, and the other he planned to empty into the Pacific when he arrived.
Accompanied by a van driven by his best friend Doug Alward, Fox ran at an incredible pace. He endured serious pain, difficult running conditions, and storms, stopping rarely to give a speech or otherwise promote the cause of cancer research.
Media interest was slight at the outset of his run, but crowds grew over time. In Ottawa, he was greeted by thousands of cheering fans and Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. When Fox was forced to give up his marathon and return home for cancer treatment, the public responded with an outpouring of support, awards, and donations. Fox’s personal goal–to raise $1 from every Canadian, or $24 million–was achieved in February 1981.
At his death in June 1981, Canadian flags were lowered to half-mast. Prime Minister Trudeau honored Fox with a eulogy describing the runner as "an example of the triumph of the human spirit over adversity" ("Our story," para. 4).
Legacy
In 1980, just after Fox ended his run, Isadore Sharp announced that he would fund an annual fund-raising run to support Fox’s dream. The first Terry Fox Run took place in seventy-six locations across Canada and raised $3.5 million.
Following that event, interest in the run continued to grow. The organization became an independent foundation, and in 2007, it created the Terry Fox Research Institute in Vancouver. In addition to the Terry Fox Run, the foundation also sponsors National School Run Day. Schools in over sixty countries participate in the fund-raiser for cancer. Over the decades, organizations created in Fox’s name have raised over $700 million.
Terry Fox’s name became a symbol for dedication, courage, and grit. As a result, his name has been attached to
- a peak in the Rocky Mountains;
- a section of the Trans-Canada Highway;
- a scholarship fund created and managed by the Canadian government;
- a stamp and coin with his likeness;
- a 9-foot bronze statue located on the site where Fox ended his run;
- a Canadian Coast Guard ship;
- a Hall of Fame for Canadians honored for their contributions to the disabled;
- a monument in Ottawa, Ontario; and
- numerous streets, buildings, and schools across Canada.
Fox has been the subject of several books, including Terry by Douglas Coupland and A Story of Hope by Maxine Trottier. He is also the subject of a 2005 Canadian Television motion picture entitled Terry, a 1983 film entitled The Terry Fox Story, and the 2010 documentary Into the Wind. In 20154, Manitoba named the first Monday in August Terry Fox Day.
Major Awards
During his lifetime, Fox received a number of Canadian awards:
- Companion of the Order of Canada
- Lou Marsh Trophy
- Canadian Newsmaker of the Year, Canadian Press (1980 and 1981)
Fox also received posthumous recognition as a Person of National Historic Significance by the government of Canada, and he was inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame.
Bibliography
"About Terry Fox and the Marathon of Hope." The Terry Fox Research Institute. The Terry Fox Institute, 2014. Web. 1 Dec. 2015. <http://www.tfri.ca/en/aboutus/terry-fox.aspx>.
Brant, John. "Following Terry Fox." Runners World 17 Sept. 2015. Web. 1 Dec. 2015. <http://www.runnersworld.com/runners-stories/terry-foxs-marathon-of-hope>.
Coupland, Douglas. Terry: Terry Fox and His Marathon of Hope.Madeira Park: Douglas & McIntyre. 2005. Print.
Enright, Michael. "Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope: 35 Years Later." CBC Radio 17 Sept. 2015. Web. 1 Dec. 2015. <http://www.cbc.ca/radio/rewind/terry-fox-s-marathon-of-hope-35-years-later-1.3222263>.
Horga, Laura-Marie. "Who Is Terry Fox?" The Institute of Cancer Research, 25 Oct. 2022, www.icr.ac.uk/blogs/science-talk/page-details/who-is-terry-fox. Accessed 29 Sept. 2024.
"Manitoba Marks First Terry Fox Day." Terry Fox Research Institute, 5 Aug. 2015, www.tfri.ca/updates/news/news-item/manitoba-marks-first-terry-fox-day. Accessed 29 Sept. 2024.
"Our Story." Terry Fox Humanitarian Award Program. Terry Fox Humanitarian Award Program, n.d. Web. Dec. 11, 2015. <http://terryfoxawards.ca/our-story/>.
Scrivener, Leslie. Terry Fox: His Story (Revised). Toronto: McClelland & Stewart. 2000. Print.
"Terry Fox." The Canadian Encyclopedia.Historica Canada, n.d. Web. 1 Dec. 2015. <http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/terry-fox/>.