Terry Fox: A True Canadian Hero

Vincent Ruscica Ruscica 1
Fri. Dec. 17th 2010

Terry Fox

Throughout our country’s history there have been many people whom we have classified as true Canadian heroes. There are war heroes like Billy Bishop, inventors such as Charles Best and Frederick Banting, and sports heroes like Paul Henderson. One name that will always come to mind is Terry Fox. Terry Fox inspired many Canadians to be motivated regardless of any obstacles that they may be faced to overcome. Terry Fox inspired many Canadians to be motivated regardless of any obstacles they may be faced to overcome. Terrance Stanley Fox was born on July 28th 1958 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Terry spent most of his life in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia. (Bisson 76). Growing up Terry was a very active kid, as he would try to get involved with a lot of the school and community sports. (Bisson 76). Terry like his father Rolly Fox, was a
competitive person. (Groiler). His passion and enthusiasm for basketball kept him motivated to try out for his Junior High School team. Although he saw little playing time in his early years of high school he continued to dedicate himself to improving his game. He would eventually win the high school’s athlete of the year award in grade twelve. Terry later enrolled at Simon Fraser University where he studied

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Kinesiology in an attempt to become a physical education teacher. (SFU). Terry’s determination earned him a spot on the Simon Fraser Junior varsity basketball team. (SFU). However on November 12th 1976, Terry’s life took a turn for the worse when he got in a car accident and seriously injured his right leg. (Bisson 76). Later on in the year he started feeling pain again but decided to leave it until the end of basketball season. By March of 1977 the pain was getting stronger and Terry was forced to go to the hospital where he was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, a cancer that begins in the knees. (Scrivner) He was later told that his right leg would eventually have to be amputated. Terry was making a strong and rapid recovery as he was walking three weeks after the operation with an artificial leg. (MacQueen). The night before his operation Terry was given an article from his former coach about Dick Traum, a man who competed in the New York City Marathon with one leg. (CBC). This article inspired Terry to make a difference in the world. Therefore he planned to make an epic journey to run across Canada on one leg in an effort to raise money for cancer research. (Bisson 76). This journey was soon to be called the “Marathon of Hope.” Terry planned to run from St. John’s, Newfoundland all the way to Victoria, British Columbia. (Scrivner). On April 12th 1980 Terry embarked on his cross Canada journey hop stepping his way along due to springs in his artificial leg. Terry was now approaching Thunder Bay, Ontario where he started coughing heavily and feeling pains in his chest. (Brittanica). Terry was brought to the hospital where he was informed that his cancer had returned and this time it had spread into his lungs. The day after Terry was devastated to announce the end of his journey after 143 days and 5,373 kilometres. (Bisson 77). As months passed, things just got worse for Terry, as the disease continued to spread. He later returned to Royal Columbian Hospital on June 19th 1981. On June 28th 1981 Terry passed away after he fell into a coma. (Groiler). Flags were put at half mast and the entire country was devastated to lose such a courageous hero like Terry.
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Terry Fox had many reasons to attempt to run all the way across Canada. All these reasons gave him the characteristics of a true hero. That article that Terry read, the night before his operation influenced him to start the Marathon of Hope. (Gilbert). Battling cancer himself, Terry wanted to be a difference maker by raising money for cancer research. Terry was angered at the fact that very little amount of money was dedicated to cancer research. (MacQueen). Many people doubted Terry and were nervous that he could not succeed, including his mother Betty. The doubts only angered Terry and motivated him even more to prove everyone wrong. Terry was displeased with the fact that his own mother didn’t believe in him because he thought that she would support him. (ESPN). Betty Fox said, "He said, 'I thought you'd be one of the first persons to believe in me and I wasn't. I was the first person who let him down". (Fox). Terry’s bravery and competitiveness sparked his decision to go through and make his way across Canada on an artificial leg. Before Terry set foot on his run, he had a goal to raise one million dollars for cancer research by the end of the run. That one million turned into 23 million dollars. Most of the donations were received months after Terry’s death. (Scrivner). One of the most significant reasons for attempting his run was Dick Traum. (Gilbert). Dick Traum was an amputee who competed in the New York City marathon. (CBC). Dick was Terry’s biggest inspiration in deciding to run across Canada. Terry trained for fourteen months in preparation for his Marathon of Hope.

From the time Terry had his leg amputated to now, he has influenced a number of people to make a difference. He has influenced people with his courage, ambition, perseverance, dedication and endless characteristics towards something he believes in. He hasn’t just influenced Canadians but he has influenced people all over the World. Every year people across the world participate in the annual Terry

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Fox Run in an effort to do what Terry tried to do in the Marathon of Hope, raise money for cancer research.
(Scrivner). This year marked the 30th anniversary for the Terry Fox Run. To this day approximately 500 million dollars has been raised around the world through the Terry Fox Run. Terry, being a Canadian, has made Canada proud. (Scrivner). Terry Fox has influenced other Canadian Heroes such Rick Hansen and Steve Nash. Rick Hansen is a Canadian Paralympian who introduced Terry to wheelchair basketball. After Rick saw what Terry did with the Marathon of Hope, it inspired him to do something similar with The Man in Motion Tour. (MacLeod 12). Rick planned to circle the world in his wheelchair. This tour began in 1985. Two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash idolized Terry Fox. ESPN made a documentary on Terry Fox called “Into the Wind.” (ESPN). Steve Nash is the host of the documentary. The documentary pays tribute to Terry’s
journey.
Terry Fox brought together a nation with his perseverance and hope. Those that were around to witness his endeavour live or on television were able to witness his journey for themselves and were both astonished and inspired. Those who are only able to read it in the history books can only imagine it but probably feel the same way. If you think of all the people in Canadian history who can be called heroes, they are people who have made our lives better today with their discoveries, or who gave of themselves to help others, or who gave us a moment in time that has made the country proud and that we will never forget. Terry Fox is all those things and although he doesn’t have any super powers he has all the characteristics of a superhero.