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The Rog's Rant

Terry Fox Foundation keeps the fight alive

“I'm not a dreamer, and I'm not saying this will initiate any kind of definitive answer or cure to cancer, but I believe in miracles. I have to.” – Terry Fox, 1980.

I hope every single Canadian knows the story of Terry Fox by now. They should.

It’s been 27 years after all since Terry Fox started his run across Canada to raise money for cancer research. There have been annual Terry Fox Runs for every year since then, several movies and made-for-TV shows and a couple of books written about him. His story is told in every Canadian school, especially at this time for year – the time for the annual Terry Fox Run.

But just in case you don’t know the details, here’s the Reader’s Digest version.

Terry Fox was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba and raised in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia. At the age of 18 the young athletic Fox was diagnosed with bone cancer, resulting in his right leg being amputated six inches above his knee in 1977.

While he was in the hospital recuperating, he was so overcome by the suffering of other cancer patients (many of them young children), he decided to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research.

His goal with The Marathon of Hope was to raise $22 million, or $1 for every Canadian at the time. He spent 18 months training and on April 12, 1980 began his trek with little fanfare in St. John’s, Newfoundland.

Media attention and money soon followed him after a slow start. He ran 42 kilometres (26 miles) a day through Canada’s Atlantic provinces, Quebec and Ontario for 143 days, or 5,373 kilometres, raising an enormous amount of money.

On September 1, 1980, he was forced to stop running after the cancer was discovered in his lungs. On June 28, 1981, Terry Fox died at the age of 22.

Fox died, but The Marathon of Hope lives on in his name. More than $400 million has been raised through the annual Terry Fox Run, which takes place across the country and in numerous international locations on Sunday, September 16.

Thanks to the hard work of the Terry Fox Foundation, led by the Fox family, the event gets bigger and bigger every year. Added to the festivities this year is a Terry Fox at Work Day Friday, Sept. 14, and for the third year, the Terry Fox National School Run Day will take place on Sept. 28, with schools from across the country all taking part.

I was a sports writer at the Etobicoke Gazette when Fox had to abandon his Run and his story touched me and many, many others deeply. I’ve been in 21 Fox Runs since then, including the last 18 in a row, and will certainly be out there again this year.

But the Fox Foundation’s commitment to keeping this dream alive continues to inspire all of us who take part. They keep coming up with new ideas and promotions to continue to spread the word and keep the dream alive.

It’s hard to believe that was 27 years ago now. That’s five years longer than Terry Fox lived on this planet.

But The Marathon of Hope will be bigger and better in 2007 than ever before. They will raise more money, generate more publicity and keep the fight going just a s strong as they did back in 1980.

You can get details at www.terryfoxrun.org. I’m sure it will be another spectacular success in 2007, as it has been every year. And in case anybody is wondering: “How long will the Terry Fox Run go for?” The answer is simple.

The Terry Fox Run will continue until the battle is won.

Comments on The Rant of August 30 on Toronto Maple Leafs Baseball:

“I discovered Intercounty Baseball for the first time this summer and let me tell you, it was terrific. I will certainly do what I can to pass the word about this great summer tradition.” – Rob in Toronto

“Great write-up, Roger. It made us even sorrier that we weren’t able to be there. Please pass our congratulations on to the Dominicos.” - The Dominicos of Marmora

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