Terry Fox

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.

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.

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 during the training. He also successfully completed a 43 kilometre 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.

Fox’s ‘Marathon of Hope’ across Canada’s length spanned 143 days during which he covered 5,373 kilometres. 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.