Review #1

The Terry Fox Run

Terry Fox was born in 1958 in Winnipeg, Man. When Terry was a child he enjoyed playing sports, and he joined the cross-country running team. In the year of 1977, a tragic occurred for Terry Fox and his family when a pain in his knee has been discovered and he could barely stand. He went to the hospital and his right leg was amputated six inches above his knee due to cancer. 

Terry Fox pushed himself to adjust to his artificial leg and walk again. He knew that he could do something to support cancer research and raise money and awareness. His mission was to run across the country to raise both awareness and money in his fight against cancer. Terry practiced hard for over a year and after that he was ready to announce his mission to Canada. He stated that his goal was to collect $1 for every person living in the country. Terry ran about 42 kilometers each day no matter what the weather, raining or even snowing he still ran. After Terry ran for 143 days, his cancer had spread to his lungs and that caused him to not continue the run. However, the money and donations kept coming and a total of $24.17 million was raised passing Terry’s initial goal. Terry Fox died on June 28, 1981, surrounded by his loved ones and becoming the youngest person ever to be awarded the order of Canada. On Sept. 13, 1981, the first Terry Fox Run was held. More than 300,000 Canadians took part in the event at 760 sites across the country. The run raised $3.5 million.  It is truly moving that the heroic, unselfish mission of one young man serves as such an inspiration to all of us no matter where we live in the world.

Fox's journey across Canada

The Terry Fox Run, named in honour of Canadian amputee runner Terry Fox who at 21, attempted to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research, has become a Canadian tradition. It has become a social norm in our everyday lives to remember this amazing moment by having a Terry Fox Run every year in the month of April. The Terry Fox Run is held in schools, hospitals and even at workplaces to keep the awareness rising for cancer research. Terry Fox became a part of us, and a part of our hearts. He is in our geography, in awards that honor outstanding young Canadians, as a role model for athletes and in cancer research funded as it had never been before. Canada has founding moments, founding heroic figures, and has the idea of the nation. Terry Fox realized that the nation was about to see what the disease did, and hoped that it could lead to greater generosity. A week after his run ended, the CTV Television Network organized a nationwide telethon in support of Fox and the Canadian Cancer Society.