Another feature I'll try out. This one a little more solemn...
This month I'm recognizing the life and times of Terrance Stanley "Terry" Fox. A true Canadian hero and inspiration, this year marks 30 years since Fox embarked on a nation wide journey to raise money and awareness for cancer research dubbed the Terry Fox Marathon of Hope; literally. Terry had intended to run all the way from The Avalon Peninsula in Newfoundland to the Western Coast of Vancouver Island. Complicating this was the fact that Fox had lost his right leg to cancer in 1977. However the trooper that Terry was before, during and after his initial spell with cancer, he made do with his situation and trekked on until he could trek no more. For 143 days, Fox ran on average 42.195 km each day, or the equivalent of a marathon.
Unfortunately Fox never did make it to his final destination. His cancer came out of remission and had spread to his lungs. Consequently Fox had to postpone his marathon of hope indefinitely; just outside of Thunder Bay Ontario in October of 1980, after running 5,373 kilometres. Terry died several months later in June of 1981. However Fox lived long enough to help organize a fundraiser, for cancer research, named the "Terry Fox Run" which served to commemorate Fox's efforts every year; and while Terry's run ended after 143 days, Canadians and individuals in over 60 other countries carry on Fox's Marathon of hope to this day. Collectively, over 500 million Canadian dollars has been raised at these runs for cancer research.
Terry was survived by parents Rolly and Betty Fox, elder brother, Fred, younger brother, Darrell and younger sister, Judith.
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