I'm sorry that you didn't get to finish, Terry Fox. But here is what you started. For more than 36 years there have been Terry Fox runs happening every September in more than 9,000 communities across Canada. In those 36 years a staggering sum of more than $700 million has been raised.
It was on March 9, 1977 when Terry discovered that he had a malignant tumour in his right leg. It was just months short of his 20th birthday. At 19 years of age, I'm not sure how I would have handled that terrible news. The night before the surgery, I probably wouldn't read about an amputee runner and wonder if I could do that. I probably would have been just too scared to think about much of anything.
After the amputation, Terry started training, seriously training, running more than 5,000 kilometres. Terry wanted to run across Canada and raise money for cancer research. He wrote to the Canadian Cancer Society for their support. “I'm not a dreamer and I'm not sure this will initiate any definitive answer or cure for cancer, but I believe in miracles. I have to,” said Terry.
I remember training for a run many, many years ago. It was a 10-kilometre run in Lethbridge. I trained for several months and it was very hard work. Before the run I thought that if things went well I'd train more and run a marathon. I'm glad that I did, it but it was exhausting. I don't think I ever ran another race again.
Terry ran a marathon just about every day for 143 days, through six provinces and completed 5,373 kilometres of his run.
And then came Sept 1, 1980. Most of us know the rest of the story. Terry had to stop running because the primary cancer had spread to his lungs. He returned to B.C.'s Lower Mainland for treatment and to be with his family. Isadore Sharpe, owner of the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, telegrammed the Fox family and committed to start a fundraising run to be held every year in Terry's name. He wrote, “You started it. We will not rest until your dream for a cure is realized.”
Terry Fox died on June 28, 1981, just months short of his 23rd birthday.
It was a Sunday and I was in the kitchen when I heard the radio announcement. It shouldn't have been such a shock, but it was.
However, Terry Fox's memory and spirit live on. On Sept. 17, beginning at 12:30 p.m. at Centennial Park, we here in Innisfail will resume his legacy by running, walking and riding.
This remarkable young man's legacy needs to continue right here in our community every single year until the job is done.
If you don't want to be in the run then come down and support the participants. Terry Fox can never be forgotten.
Patrick Gleason is the chairperson for Innisfail's annual Terry Fox community run.
