Terry Fox

Terry Fox was a Canadian athlete, humanitarian, and cancer research activist. He was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and moved to Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, with his family when he was 10 years old. He was an avid runner and basketball player in high school and university. In 1977, he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer, and had his right leg amputated above the knee. He continued to run with a prosthetic leg and also played wheelchair basketball, winning three national championships. In 1980, he decided to run across Canada to raise money and awareness for cancer research. He called his journey the Marathon of Hope, and he aimed to run a marathon (42 km) every day. He started from St. John's, Newfoundland, on April 12, 1980, with little fanfare and media attention. However, as he progressed through the provinces, he gained more and more support and recognition from the public, the media, and celebrities. He also met with many cancer patients, especially children, and inspired them with his courage and determination. He ran for 143 days and covered 5,373 km, reaching Thunder Bay, Ontario, on September 1, 1980. Unfortunately, his cancer had spread to his lungs, and he had to stop his run. He was hospitalized and underwent treatment, but his condition worsened. He died on June 28, 1981, at the age of 22. He was mourned by millions of Canadians and people around the world who admired his spirit and his cause. His legacy lives on through the Terry Fox Foundation, which organizes annual Terry Fox Runs in Canada and other countries. The foundation has raised over $850 million for cancer research as of 2022. Terry Fox was honoured with many awards and recognitions, such as the Companion of the Order of Canada, the Lou Marsh Award, and the Canadian Newsmaker of the Year. He is widely regarded as a national hero and an icon of hope.