Terrance Stanley 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. The annual Terry Fox Run, first held in 1981, has grown to involve millions of participants in over 60 countries. Over C$750 million has been raised in his name as of January 2018.
About Terry Fox in brief
Terrance Stanley 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. The annual Terry Fox Run, first held in 1981, has grown to involve millions of participants in over 60 countries. Over C$750 million has been raised in his name as of January 2018. In addition to being the youngest person ever named a Companion of the Order of Canada, Fox won the 1980 Lou Marsh Award as the nation’s top sportsman. He has had many buildings, statues, roads, and parks named in his honour across the country. Fox was an enthusiastic athlete, playing soccer, rugby and baseball as a child. His passion was for basketball and though he stood only five feet tall and was a poor player at the time, Fox sought to make his school team in grade eight. In grade 12, he won his high school’s athlete of the year award jointly with his best friend Doug Alward. He tried out for the junior varsity team, earning a spot ahead of more talented players due to his determination. On November 12, 1976, Fox was driving to the family home in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, when he crashed into the back of a pickup truck. While his right knee was left undriveable, Fox emerged with only a sore right knee. In December 1977, he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a form of cancer that often starts near the knees.
He was told there was no connection to the knee and left it to be believed it was vulnerable to the disease, though his doctors argued there was. By the end of the basketball season, he felt pain in his leg and he finally went to a hospital, where he was told that his leg had been amputate. He also played wheelchair basketball in Vancouver, winning three national championships. Fox played only one minute in his grade-eight season but dedicated his summers to improving his play. 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. His hopes of overcoming the disease and completing his run ended when he died nine months later. He hoped to raise one dollar from each of Canada’s 24 million people. He began with little fanfare from St John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, in April and ran the equivalent of a full marathon every day. Fox had become a national star by the time he reached Ontario; he made numerous public appearances with businessmen, athletes, and politicians in his efforts to raise funds for cancerResearch. In April 1980, he began the Marathon of Hope, a cross-country run to raising money for cancer Research. In May 1980, Fox ended his run after 143 days and 5,373 kilometres, and ultimately cost him his life. He had no desire for cross- country running, but took it up because he respected and wanted to please his coach.
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This page is based on the article Terry Fox published in Wikipedia (as of Dec. 03, 2020) and was automatically summarized using artificial intelligence.
