44 years later Terry Fox’s story still resonates with people
Fred Fox spoke with students in Corner Brook on the anniversary of the start of his brother’s Marathon of Hope
CORNER BROOK — When Terry Fox dipped his artificial leg into the Atlantic Ocean to begin his Marathon of Hope in Outer Cove 44 years ago, Fred Fox never thought that all these years later he’d still be sharing his brother’s story.
“Not at all,” Fred said as he paused for a short break between speaking sessions at Corner Brook Intermediate in Corner Brook on Friday, April 12.
As part of his work with the Terry Fox Foundation, Fred was at the school to speak with its over 600 students in Grades 7 to 9. It was the tenth school he’s visited since starting his annual spring speaking tour.
It was a tough day but also an important one with it being the anniversary of the start of the Marathon for Hope.
A MARATHON FOR OTHERS
Terry Fox was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in 1977 and had his right leg amputated. An athlete all through his life, he never let his illness hold him back. He began the Marathon of Hope to raise money and awareness for cancer research. His goal was to raise $1 from each of Canada’s then 24 million people.
Terry was forced to abandon the marathon in Thunder Bay, Ontario, in September 1980 when it was discovered that his cancer had returned and spread to his lungs. He had completed 3,339 miles and raised $1.7 million.
While the marathon had ended, efforts to meet his fundraising goal continued and by April 1981 over $23 million had been raised.
A COURAGEOUS STORY
After Terry died in June 1981, Fred said their mother, Betty Fox, was thrust into the public eye to share his story. It was something she was not comfortable with doing in the beginning. Betty Fox died in 2011.
In those early years, his parents were told that the interest and work in Terry’s name might continue for a year or two or four.
Fred has been sharing his brother’s story for 30 years.
“I never could have imagined that Terry’s impact all these years later would be continuing,” he said.
Fred believes that’s because of the students. He said 9,000 schools across the country hold Terry Fox events and they do so because teachers and staff and parents and grandparents have shared his story so that the kids will eventually one day do the same thing.
MORE THAN A NAME
When Fred speaks to students he talks of the Marathon for Hope and the Terry Fox runs but he also talks about his brother.
“People connect the Terry Fox name with this kid who ran across Canada for cancer, and I try to fill in the lines a little bit there with telling personal stories about what he was like growing up. He was just like them an ordinary kid, had to work hard and everything he did from a very young age,” he said.
It’s those stories that resonate with the students and they’ll often tell Fred that they learnt about another part of Terry.
“Learnt that he was just like them. Just like any other Canadian kid and not this person that we’ve all put up a little bit higher as a hero,” said Fred.
That’s a designation his brother would not like.
“He was being called a hero at different points during the Marathon of Hope and after he was forced to stop in Thunder Bay, and he never liked that. He believed that he wasn’t a hero.”
Fred said he’d say that those lying in cancer wards were the heroes.
Fred said so much has changed in the past 44 years.
“The discoveries and the research are so much better,” he said.
So, while talking about his brother is sometimes difficult, Fred said it’s all worthwhile when a staff member, or parent or even as student tell him that they have a loved one who is still here because of what Terry did.
“That’s the progress that we’re making. People are surviving longer because of the discoveries and the research and the money that’s being raised,” he said.
INSPIRING
Ellianna Moise, co-president of the Corner Brook Intermediate Student Council said Terry’s story is very inspiring.
“It’s amazing that it’s still being told in this school and that we’re learning about these things. It’s just so amazing that even now we’re still learning about it, we’re still walking and we’re still raising money,” said Moise, a Grade 9 student.
Grade 8 student Liam Sache is also a member of the student council. Sache said he started learning about Terry in elementary school and during the presentation he learned more about the person Terry was.
“I didn’t know he played wheelchair basketball. I didn’t know he played rugby. It’s amazing truly,” he said.
When he hears Terry’s name, Sache said he thinks of the word hope.
“He had a dream to run a marathon every day,” said Sache, adding it shows true dedication and that it’s important to keep sharing Terry’s story.
“It’s a marathon that should never stop,” he said.