Who is Terry Fox?
He is the typical unsung hero, a person who is only known by few ... or as they say in my country, "Only by those in his household." For every runner, marathoner, humanitarian or just a human being who enjoy’s being inspired by good story. His name should be legendary and as common as the neighbor’s
Terry Fox was born on July 28, 1958, in Winnipeg, Manitoba (Canada). Thanks to the influence of his mother, Terry developed a dual (both negative and positive) quality ... he was exceptionally "hard headed" and stubborn. Every time he applied to a task, he would not cease it until he was satisfied with its completion ... winning fascinated him and losing was not an option.
As retold by his own father Rolly Fox:
"He was like a dog…he would not stop chewing the meat of the matter, until he reached the bone”
He was an enthusiast of Baseball, basketball and rugby. His passion for basketball, led him to win the award for best player of his school ... this in contrast with his short height and the fact that, for 4 years, he was considered the worst basketball player in the district... but again thanks to his tenacity Terry achieve the victory he so desired. During that year, thanks to the advice of his coach, Terry slowly began to develop a love for running ... and especially for long distances.
On November 12, 1976, Fox was driving home from Port Coquitlam, at curve, he was distracted and had a minor car accident. Although he left quite unharmed, for months he suffered a bruised left knee ... The pain intensified during the Basketball season, but Terry chose to ignore. In December of that year he was finally diagnosed. The result:
Osteosarcoma, a type of cancer that begins in the knee and spreads throughout the body. The method’s to combat it had evolved and doctor’s said that few years ago there were only 15% chance of survival, but through science and research of the disease, new treatments had been developed. Terry survived after months of chemotherapy ... the final cost was his leg, which they had to be amputate.
Fox fought for 16 months against the cancer, despite the loss of his leg and ravaging disease. Doctors continued to be impressed by his optimistic vision, this been, to them, that last factor that more than any saved him.
With the help of a prosthetic aluminum Terry returned to play basketball and continue his hard training.
According to him:
"I was thankfull for the technological advances of this era…. This I belive is the reason I am now alive…I'll never forget that fact "
The night before his last surgery Fox, inspired by an article about Dick Traum (the first amputee to complete the New York marathon) and with feelings of anger, for lack of budget that his disease warranted ... he formed an idea ....
The Marathon of Hope.
In 1979 he completed the Marathon in Prince George, British Colombia, but this was merely a bridge for his true goal ....
That same year in October, he unveiled a daunting project: to collect at least one dollar from every Canadian citizen, over 24 million dollars in total ... The cause: Donation’s For the Cancer Society
How would Terry achieve it?:
He would cross Canada ... running every day and covering an area of more than 6000km.
"When I left the hospital I realized that there was a sense of denial ... of people who had stopped smiling, hoping ... I could not leave knowing that these faces and feelings would still be present in this life .... At some point the pain has to end and I am willing to go the limit to lend a helping hand. "
With the help of FORD, ADIDAS and IMPERIAL OIL ... Terry started his journey.
On April 12, 1980, Fox filled two plastic bottles with water from the Atlantic Ocean (his intention was to take it all the way to the end of his odyssey) and began to run from St. Johns, Newfoundland, to Victoria, British Colombia.
During the early days of his journey Fox experienced torrential rain, tornado strength winds and even unexpected snow storm ... but it was the sins of his fellow humans, that weigh so heavy on his heart, constant fights with his companion in the journey and the medical community that ridiculed his adventure and finally even drivers who tried to push him of the road and prevent his achievement.
In a tired and dreadful mood Terry arrived at Port aux Basques, where his attitude was renewed ... the city donated 10 thousand dollars, one dollar for every citizen of the region.
"Thanks to these beautiful people I can now draw a renewed vigor for what is ahead "
In Toronto he reunited 100 thousand dollars, then in Ontario about 25 thousand.
"The truth is that I am shocked by the support of the Canadian people."
Fox was experiencing his 15 minutes of fame ... and in the process helping the needy. He never took a day off, even on his 22nd birthday he ran his Marathon. Despite continuous pain in the legs, knees, cyst and muscles spams, Fox never gave up ... He not only ran, but also took the time to attend meetings, dinners or fundraising spectacles…anything to develop grants and donations.
All this changed in September of that very year. A small distance from achieving his ultimate goal and having already crossed over 5.373 km in 143 days, this great athlete started having problems. Surrounded by fans and witness, Terry, started having a coughing fit ... but he kept running and choice to ignore it. He gradually began to feel dizzy and finally broke down and had to be rushed to the emergency room.
On September 2 ... Terry Fox gave a press conference in completely devasted; he announced that the cancer had returned ... Terry was dying.
On June 19, 1981, Terry Fox entered the Royal Columbia Hospital in New Westminister ... went into a coma ... died nine days later, after the 4:35 a.m.
The Canadian government ordered that day, in honor of Terry, that all flags would sail at half-mast.
"It occurs very rarely in the life of a nation that the courageous spirit of one person unites all people in the celebration of his life and in the mourning of his death ... We do not think of him as one who was defeated by misfortune but as one who inspired us with the example of the triumph of the human spirit over adversity".
In the end Terry Fox managed to raise $ 1.6 million. Inspire millions of Canadians with his character, and become an example of and indomitable will.
Once a year in honor of his memory, thousands of citizens participate in the Terry Fox Run.
He was compared with the classic hero, Phidippides, the runner who brought news of the Battle of Marathon before dying in his commander’s arms:
"Fox is a clear example of true human values: compassion, perseverance and determination".
Terry Fox, a person who lived with passion and totality… that perhaps at the end had an inner fire that was stronger than his mortal coil.
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