Terry Fox Wiki – Terry Fox Biography
Terry Fox CC OD was a Canadian athlete, humanitarian, and cancer research activist. In 1980, with one leg having been amputated due to cancer, he embarked on an east to west cross-Canada run to raise money and awareness for cancer research. Although the spread of his cancer eventually forced him to end his quest after 143 days and 5,373 kilometres (3,339 mi), and ultimately cost him his life, his efforts resulted in a lasting, worldwide legacy. The annual Terry Fox Run, first held in 1981, has grown to involve millions of participants in over 60 countries and is now the world’s largest one-day fundraiser for cancer research; over C$750 million has been raised in his name, as of January 2018.
Fox was a distance runner and basketball player for his Port Coquitlam high school, now named after him, and Simon Fraser University. His right leg was amputated in 1977 after he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, though he continued to run using an artificial leg. He also played wheelchair basketball in Vancouver, winning three national championships.
After his marathon was cut short, fundraising events were held in his honor that maximized his efforts. The money raised quickly increased from $1 million to $23 million, 9 to 5 Google reported.
“Even though I’m not running anymore, we’ve still got to try and find a cure for cancer,” he said in his 1981 interview with CBC. “And I think other people should get ahead and try to do their thing now.”
While he was undergoing treatment, his family received a telegram from Isadore Sharp, Chairman and CEO of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, according the the Terry Fox Foundation. The telegram detailed a commitment to organize a fundraising run in Fox’s name.
“You started it,” it said. “We will not rest until your dream to find a cure for cancer is realized.”
CTV, a Canadian TV network, organized a telethon for Fox which raised $10 million in five hours, his foundation reported.
Terry Fox Age
Terry Fox has died at the age of 22 years.
Family & Siblings
Terry Fox was born on July 28, 1958, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, to Rolland and Betty Fox. Rolland was a switchman for the Canadian National Railway. Fox had an elder brother, Fred, a younger brother, Darrell, and a younger sister, Judith. Fox’s maternal grandmother is Métis and Fox’s younger brother Darrell has official Métis status.
His family moved to Surrey, British Columbia, in 1966, then settled in Port Coquitlam, in 1968. His parents were dedicated to their family, and his mother was especially protective of her children; it was through her that Fox developed his stubborn dedication to whatever task he committed to do. His father recalled that he was extremely competitive, noting that Fox hated to lose so much that he would continue at any activity until he succeeded.
Lost his Leg to Cancer
Terry Fox lost his leg to cancer, but it didn’t stop him from making it his mission to run across Canada. Fox is being honored with a Google Doodle Sunday, September 13, 2020.
Fox was diagnosed with bone cancer when he was only 18 years old. After encountering children in the hospital cancer unit, he decided to become an activist for cancer research. He decided to run across Canada in his Marathon of Hope, according to the Terry Fox Foundation. Tragically, on his run, he learned he had cancer in his lungs.
Today, his legacy lives on in the annual the Terry Fox Run, which will be held virtually this year on Sunday, September 20, 2020.
Fox expressed a robust attitude to his situation: he refused to regard himself as disabled, and would not allow anyone to pity him, telling a Toronto radio station that he found life more “rewarding and challenging” since he had lost his leg.His feat helped redefine Canadian views of disability and the inclusion of the disabled in society. Fox’s actions increased the visibility of people with disabilities, and in addition influenced the attitudes of those with disabilities, by showing them disability portrayed in a positive light. Rick Hansen commented that the run challenged society to focus on ability rather than disability. “What was perceived as a limitation became a great opportunity. People with disabilities started looking at things differently.
Surgery
Terry Fox remained hopeful and optimistic even on the eve of his surgery to have a portion of his right leg removed, according to the Terry Fox Foundation. The Winnipeg, Manitoba teen was diagnosed with a malignant tumor in his right leg when he was 18 years old on March 9, 1977. The night before his surgery was scheduled, he read about runner and amputee, Dick Traum, and dreamed about running also. Traum was the first amputee to complete the New York Marathon. His former basketball coach brought him the magazine about Traum, Fox wrote in a piece published on Race Roster.
Fox’s leg was amputated about six inches above his knee. While he was in the hospital, he saw children suffering from cancer and his mission became defined, according to 9 to 5 Google.
“I soon realized that that would only be half my quest, for as I went through the 16 months of the physically and emotionally draining ordeal of chemotherapy, I was rudely awakened by the feelings that surrounded and coursed through the cancer clinic,” Fox wrote. “There were faces with the brave smiles, and the ones who had given up smiling. There were feelings of hopeful denial, and the feelings of despair. My quest would not be a selfish one. I could not leave knowing these faces and feelings would still exist, even though I would be set free from mine. Somewhere the hurting must stop….and I was determined to take myself to the limit for this cause.”
Less than two years after his surgery to amputate his leg above his knee, Fox began training for the Marathon of Hope. His run across Canada was designed to raise funds for cancer research. He began the race in St. John’s, Newfoundland. At the beginning of his journey, on April 12, 1980, he dipped his artificial leg in the Atlantic Ocean, according to the Terry Fox Foundation.
His plan was to run across Canada from east to west. Fox ran an average of 26 miles a day through six provinces. His brother and a friend gave him support, staying nearby in a van, according to 9 to 5 Google.
He had a goal of raising $1 for every Canadian. That goal was achieved on February 1, 1981, just four months before he died. It was at that point that $24.17 million was raised for cancer research. At the time, Canada had a population of 24.1 people.
Fox was running across Canada during his Marathon
Fox was running across Canada during his Marathon of Hope when he stopped due to pain in his chest and difficulty breathing. He was 143 days into the race and had run 3,393 miles. He was in Thunder Bay when the pain forced him to stop on April 1, 1980, according to the Terry Fox Foundation.
He ran 18 miles that day before stopping, he said in a 1981 video interview with CBC.
Fox was tearful in his interview with reporters, announcing his cancer had spread.
“Now I’ve got cancer in my lungs,” he said.
His resolve returned moments later.
“All I can say is, if there’s anyway I can get up there again and finish it, I will,” he said.
He returned to British Columbia for treatment. Fox was treated with chemotherapy and other medical treatments. Tragically, he never returned to the race. At age 22, he died on June 28, 1981 ,at Royal Columbian Hospital, New Westminster, British Columbia, just one month shy of his 23rd birthday.
Fox’s Marathon of Hope, also called the Terry Fox Run, has been held year after year as thousands of people across the globe finish the race that Fox started. As of April, 2020, The Terry Fox Foundation has raised more than $800 million for cancer research, according to its website.
The 2020 Terry Fox Run will be held virtually on Sunday, September 20, 2020, due to the coronavirus. Register for the race here or donate here.
Fox spoke to CBC and other reporters from a stretcher shortly after he learned cancer spread to his lungs. He announced the new diagnosis, and said he would have to discontinue his race and go through treatment. Fox said in the interview he hoped that other people would continue what he started.
“I hope that what I’ve done has been an inspiration, and I hope I will see it now – that people will take off and continue where I left off here.”
Cause of Death
He returned to British Columbia for treatment. Fox was treated with chemotherapy and other medical treatments. Tragically, he never returned to the race. At age 22, he died on June 28, 1981 ,at Royal Columbian Hospital, New Westminster, British Columbia, just one month shy of his 23rd birthday.
In the following months, Fox received multiple chemotherapy treatments, but the disease continued to spread. As his condition worsened, Canadians hoped for a miracle and Pope John Paul II sent a telegram saying that he was praying for Fox. Doctors turned to experimental interferon treatments, though their effectiveness against osteogenic sarcoma was unknown. He suffered an adverse reaction to his first treatment, but continued the program after a period of rest.
Fox was re-admitted to the Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster on June 19, 1981, with chest congestion and developed pneumonia. He fell into a coma and died at 4:35 a.m. PDT on June 28, 1981, a month before his 23rd birthday with his family by his side. The Government of Canada ordered flags across the country lowered to half mast, an unprecedented honour that was usually reserved for statesmen. Addressing the House of Commons, Trudeau said, “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”.
His funeral in Port Coquitlam was attended by 40 relatives and 200 guests, and broadcast on national television; hundreds of communities across Canada also held memorial services,a public memorial service was held on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, and Canadians again overwhelmed Cancer Society offices with donations.
