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The Marathon of Hope started with one man, Terry Fox, but Canadians continue to carry on his legacy.
"Terry Fox has impacted so many Canadians," says Carissa Robb, the Director of Community Development in Manitoba and Saskatchewan with the Terry Fox Foundation. "His attitude is what keeps us going. It's incredible for such a young man, how mature he was, his ethics, determination and perseverance, it's admirable and keeps me, and the hundreds of volunteers going year after year."
Fox was born in Winnipeg, MB, in 1958 but grew up with his family in B.C. In high school he loved to play basketball, soccer, and rugby, going on to win the Athlete of the Year award in grade 12 in Port Coquitlam.
"He got cancer as a teenager and was in the children's cancer ward, and that affected him deeply. He didn't like seeing kids suffering. He decided to make a difference by running across Canada to raise money for cancer research so that no child should have to suffer."
Fox did all this after the doctors had to amputate his right leg from the hip down. At just 22 years old, he ran on a wooden leg and roughly one marathon a day, starting on the East Coast in 1980.
"He was going to run all the way west to his home in B.C. He did amazing! He got a little bit over halfway across Canada when cancer hit him again."
Although Fox was unable to finish, his goal of raising a dollar for every Canadian (22 million at the time) was realized before he passed away June 28, 1981. This weekend will be the 44th annual Terry Fox run across Canada.
"We as Canadians have promised to carryon his marathon of hope, year after year. There are about 30 communities in Manitoba that are having the run. We're so excited to welcome everyone across the province to come out and participate, show your support for Terry and cancer research."
To find the Terry Fox run closest to you on Sunday, September 15, click this link. People unable to participate in the run are still invited to come out and cheer people on, or simply donate online.
Just one of his many memorable quotes shows the young mans tenacity and grit. "Today we got up at 4:00 am. As usual, it was tough. If I died, I would die happy because I was doing what I wanted to do. How many people could say that? I went out and did fifteen push-ups in the road and took off. I want to set an example that will never be forgotten."
