Terry Fox was a Canadian athlete, philanthropist, and cancer research champion whose incredible willpower turned a personal tragedy into a national cause.
Fox lost his right leg to cancer in 1980 and then set out on a long marathon across the country to raise money and awareness for cancer research.
Even though his voyage was cut short, his legacy lives on in the annual Terry Fox Run, which started in 1981 and currently has millions of participants in over 60 nations.
As of September 2022, it had raised more than C$850 million in his name, making it the world’s biggest one-day cancer research fundraiser.
Fox was really dedicated to sports from a young age. He was a distance runner and a basketball player for his high school, which is now named after him, and then for Simon Fraser University.
A vehicle accident in 1976 hurt his right knee and put a stop to his plans to become an athlete. At first, he didn’t pay attention to the pain and instead focused on finishing the basketball season.
But by March 1977, the pain had gotten worse, so he went to the hospital. There, he was given a diagnosis that would change his life: osteosarcoma, a type of cancer that usually starts near the knee.
Fox thought that the injury had rendered his knee more vulnerable, but his physicians couldn’t find any proof that the accident had anything to do with the disease.
Because of the diagnosis, he would have to have his right leg amputated above the knee and then go through months of chemotherapy.
His chances of living were 50 percent at the moment, which was a big improvement from only two years previously when the chances were only 15 percent.
Fox was deeply moved by this progress in medical care, which made him even more sure of how important cancer research is.
He started walking again barely three weeks after the amputation, thanks to a prosthetic limb. His physicians were amazed by his optimistic attitude and determination, which they said helped him heal faster.
By 1979, Fox had not only learned how to walk, but he had also taught himself how to sprint with his prosthetic leg.
He finished a full marathon that year, which gave him the confidence to take on an even bigger challenge: running across Canada to raise money for cancer research.
He called his endeavor the Marathon of Hope, which was a symbolic trek aimed to inspire others and raise money for the hunt for a cure.
He started his journey west on April 12, 1980, by dipping his fake leg into the Atlantic Ocean in St. John’s, Newfoundland.
At initially, Fox’s run didn’t get much media notice and just brought in a little amount of money. He walked up to 30 miles (48 km) per day, which is about the same distance as a marathon. His prosthetic leg made him move in a unique step-hop way. As he went on, others started to take notice of his determination.
People in his community came together to support him, and donations grew as word of his amazing work spread. He had become a national figure of bravery and tenacity by the time he got to eastern Ontario.
Fox had to stop in Thunder Bay, Ontario, on September 1, 1980, after 143 days and 3,339 miles (5,374 km).
The cancer had come back, this time spreading to his lungs, and he found out about it when he had severe chest pain. He had to stop running because he couldn’t go on, but he had already raised C$1.7 million.
Support for his cause grew even greater in the months that followed. The Marathon of Hope had already raised more than Fox’s goal of C$24 million by early 1981. That was one dollar for every Canadian citizen.
As his health got worse, the country stayed hopeful that he would get better. Pope John Paul II sent a telegram with prayers, and medical teams tried experimental treatments one more time to fight the disease.
Fox went through the procedures with his typical strength, but his health kept becoming worse. He went to the Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster on June 19, 1981, with chest congestion. Later, he had pneumonia.
He died nine days later at the age of 22. The Government of Canada ordered flags to be flown at half-mast across the country, which is a respect usually only given to high-ranking politicians and leaders.
Terry Fox’s story united Canadians from every region and background, fostering a sense of national pride and collective purpose.
In a 1999 national survey, he was named Canada’s greatest hero, and in 2004, he was voted the second-greatest Canadian in a national broadcast.
His image as an ordinary person undertaking an extraordinary mission continues to resonate with people around the world.
Fox’s determination also impacted how people thought about disabilities. He didn’t believe that his amputation hampered him. In fact, he told a Toronto radio station that his life had become more “rewarding and challenging” since losing his leg. Rick Hansen, a Paralympian, said that the race made people think about ability instead of disability. He wrote, “What was seen as a limitation became a great opportunity.” People with impairments began to see things in a new way. They left feeling very proud.
(Photo credit: terryfox.org / Wikimedia Commons / Britannica).
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