Photo Karen Graham.
Terry Fox’s older brother, Fred, gives North Cavan teacher, Mr. Hamel, the school’s 15-year banner acknowledging the school’s contribution to Terry’s dream of finding a cure for cancer.
For the adults in the room, it was difficult to avoid an emotional lump in the throat during the Terry Fox assembly held last week at North Cavan Public School.
There to present the school with a banner acknowledging their 15 years of participation in the annual Terry Fox run was Terry’s older brother Fred.
With family photos and personal anecdotes, Fred demonstrated the transformation of his younger brother from a self-described unremarkable kid to a Canadian–no, an international hero.
Fred explained that it was precisely because Terry was unremarkable in terms of athletic and academic skills that he developed the determination and perseverance that has become synonymous with his name. His achievements were possible due to his mental toughness.
Terry’s Marathon of Hope took place in 1980. It was inspired by the pain and suffering he witnessed amongst his fellow cancer patients during his treatment for bone cancer in 1977, when he was just 18 years old. When cancer struck, Terry was in his first year of university, training to become a teacher. He had secured a spot on the varsity basketball team because of his work ethic, which his coach believed inspired the entire team.
His treatment required the amputation of his right leg. Two weeks after the surgery, Terry began to learn to walk again, but his goal was much more ambitious. He wanted to run a marathon.
In September 1979, he accomplished his goal in Prince George, proudly crossing the finish line in last place. Soon Canadians would understand that this was just another victory. Terry was far from finished.
He outlined his next objective to his mother. He wanted to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research. Perhaps he could raise as much as $1 million, he explained. With the support of the Ford Motor Company and the Canadian Cancer Society, the following spring he dipped his artificial leg into the Atlantic Ocean at St. John’s Newfoundland and launched his Marathon of Hope. He thought he was among the lucky survivors of childhood cancer, which at the time claimed two thirds of its victims. His hope was to improve that statistic.
During the next four months, Terry ran an average of 42 km each day, the equivalent of a marathon. As he progressed westward, attention to his cause grew, and by the time he crossed into Ontario, the sight of this lone runner with a police escort and followed by a van was becoming familiar to Canadians. His convoy began to be supported by well-wishers along his route, shouting words of encouragement.
North Cavan Principal Martin Twiss described his introduction to the Marathon of Hope. Working as part of the honour guard at Queen’s Park, on July 11th he saw an unusual convoy following a lone walker headed his way. As the group drew nearer, Twiss was amazed to see that the young man in the lead had only one leg. That day, Terry was greeted by a crowd of more than 10,000 people at Toronto City Hall.
On September 1st, Terry was forced to stop his marathon outside Thunder Bay because cancer had spread to his lungs. Recognizing his deteriorating condition, he had begun to worry that he might not finish his run. His dream was to have the cause continue even if he couldn’t. The following day, Four Seasons Hotels Chief Executive Officer Isadore Sharp publicly committed to carrying on the cause by organizing an annual fundraiser in Terry’s name, telling Terry he would not rest until Terry’s dream of finding a cure for cancer was realized.
Today millions of people in 25 countries contribute to Terry’s dream. Fred reported that more than $750 million has been raised in Terry’s name for cancer research, much of it by school children like those sitting in the North Cavan gymnasium. This year, North Cavan has set a goal of $2,000 in their event this week. Hopefully while students are running with their friends, they also take a moment to appreciate the weight of the mantel they take on as they contribute to Terry’s dream of finding a cure for cancer. KG
