It was 35 years ago this spring, in April 1980, that Terry Fox set off on his famous Marathon of Hope across the country. Most of us know that he had one leg amputated due to cancer (osteosarcoma) and was running with an early version of a prosthetic leg, one that was unable to be modified for running. Medical science has come a long way!
As with many people who experience a major health setback, Terry refused to give in to it and suffer in silence. Thus he decided to run across Canada to raise money and awareness for cancer research. He started in St. John’s, NL on April 12, 1980, ran the equivalent of a marathon each day, and eventually stopped after 143 days and 5,373 km, just outside Thunder Bay, ON.
The end of his Marathon of Hope came about because of the spread of the cancer. He hoped to overcome the disease and complete his cross-country run, but the cancer took his life several months after his stop in Thunder Bay.
Upon the death of Terry Fox, Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau said, "It occurs very rarely in the life of a nation that the courageous spirit of one person unites all people in the celebration of his life and in the mourning of his death … We do not think of him as one who was defeated by misfortune but as one who inspired us with the example of the triumph of the human spirit over adversity."
His Marathon of Hope lives on! An annual Terry Fox run is held in over 60 countries and is the largest one-day fundraiser for cancer research. It is estimated that nearly $700 million has been raised in his name.
It is an understatement to speak of Terry Fox as a national hero. He has had many buildings, roads and parks named in his honour across the country. There are statues in Thunder Bay, St. John’s, Ottawa, Victoria, and elsewhere. Fox's heroic status has been attributed to his image as an ordinary person attempting a remarkable and inspirational feat.
Rick Hansen, the Paralympian and the “Man in Motion,” has said that Terry helped all of us to see a little of ourselves in him and in his dream. Douglas Coupland, the Canadian artist, describes Terry by using the language of "myth," meaning that Terry transcends time. The writer Mark Sutcliffe says that Terry was extraordinary "because of his choices and his actions, meaning the same potential exists in all of us."
Let me offer several lessons from the life of Terry Fox.
1. What winning a gold medal can't teach: Adam van Koeverden, a four-time Olympic medalist, points out that Terry "was so much more than just an athlete, way more than a winner." He says that sport can create positive change when people get beyond medals and records and victory. "Terry was maybe the first athlete who advocated for a cause greater than his own campaign to win."
2. Stubbornness: We often assume that stubbornness is an attribute to be criticized. Terry's stubbornness could be described as tenacity. I know it first hand. As I recovered from a brain tumour, I wondered if I'd be able to run again. My physiotherapist wasn't very encouraging. I just smiled at her and told myself I'd show her. I have! Terry Fox was not deterred by the size of Canada, nor by an artificial leg. We can describe his attitude as healthy stubbornness, tenacity, or perseverance.
3. Age doesn't have anything to do with heroism. Terry was 19 when diagnosed with osteosarcoma and 21 when he began his Marathon of Hope. In our own time, we know of the heroism of Malala Yousafzai, the youngest-ever winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.
4. Family and friends: Terry relied on a strong network for support. He had his disagreements and differences with them. But, in the end, he knew the value of their support. Rick Hansen says that, after Terry's death, the whole country picked him up and helped him finish his Marathon of Hope. True movements are bigger than any one individual – think of the role of family, friends and strangers.
5. Dream big and take the long view: Terry's ambitious plans may have seemed unrealistic to many when he had the idea of a cross-country run to raise money and awareness of cancer. They may have seemed almost too big in those initial weeks, running across Newfoundland in his first days, without having many people pay attention to him. The momentum gradually built as he approached Ontario. Terry reminds us that it really is about putting actions in motion and to never give up on your dream. If you stumble, pick yourself up and get back on the road.
6. Recognize that we cannot do everything, but there's a lot we can do. Many words are used to describe Terry: courageous, selfless, eager, persevering, self-sacrificing,
7. Focus: Rick Hansen says of Terry: "He was super-competitive, determined and driven. I think Terry's greatest strength was his focus." He was authentic. Terry believed in himself.
8. It's the journey that matters, not the destination. Terry never made it to the Pacific Ocean, but that certainly doesn't diminish his accomplishments. It's actually what made so many people determined to take up the journey.
I know nothing about Terry's faith life. But something strong drove him to persevere with his dream. He continued until he could go no further. But, the fact is that his dream didn't die with him. Terry Fox runs continue to raise millions for cancer research and he lives on in the inspiration his story provides to countless numbers of Canadian youth. We need heroes. Terry Fox plays that role for a world that often forgets that individuals can make a difference.