“There was such enthusiasm for what Terry did in 1980, raising the money for cancer research and the start of the annual Terry Fox Run,” Fox explained. “Mom was asked to be the Terry Fox Run representative…she travelled across the country, travelled around the world sharing Terry’s story. She did that for 25, 30 years.”
Fox said he had been involved before, but came back to it in 2009, and he travels in the spring and fall, telling his brother’s amazing and inspiring story to schools and in other venues.
“It just became one of the things to do in this role. Mom wasn’t travelling anymore and there seemed a need to have a family member out there.”
Although many are familiar with the basics of the Terry Fox story, of a young man who lost his leg to cancer and made his run across Canada. What his brother Fred did was share photos and details from the early years as well as through the Marathon of Hope.
The pictures started at the earliest times, when the family lived in Winnipeg. They included pics from their grandparents’ home in Melita, as well as in Ninette, where Terry was baptized in the United Church and they now have a park in his honour. The family would later move to British Columbia, where Terry would meet Doug Alward. Alward would become his best friend, and would accompany him during the Marathon of Hope.
Terry was an athlete, and when he started junior high school, despite being a smaller boy, tried out for the basketball team. He worked hard and though the coach warned him he would not play much, he stuck with it, and eventually by the time he graduated, he was team captain. He later tried out for and made the Simon Fraser University team.
“Terry showed that when he wanted something bad enough, he would work at it.”
It was then he started to have knee problems. Terry tried to shrug it off, but by March 1977, the pain was so bad he could not stand up. Going to the doctor, it was discovered he had bone cancer and had to have his leg amputated above the knee. Terry was only 18 years old. The family never really knew about cancer or talked about it. Brother Fred said it was Terry that kept everyone’s spirits up.
“I remember the night before the operation, I was in his hospital room and I asked ‘why do you have to get cancer? It doesn’t seem fair, why you?’ Terry said ‘why not me? All my life I’ve been told I’m not big enough, not good enough. This is just another challenge.’”
“It was a new experience,” Fox continued. “Like any family with a cancer diagnosis, it was hard. We all got through it, and we got through it because of Terry. He had that attitude. He was the one who kept us propped up.”
He applied the same work ethic to learning to walk again with his artificial leg, and getting through extensive chemotherapy. Terry learned to run, and began training. Although he told everyone he was trying to get ready to run in the Vancouver Marathon, he was planning something bigger.
“He left that cancer ward saying he was going to do something about it.”
What he was planning was to run across Canada. Mother Betty was initially infuriated, but his mind was set. He and Alward went out to Newfoundland, with Terry dipping his artificial leg in the Atlantic Ocean at Outer Cove on April 12, 1980. The incredible story had started, or as he said in his journal, “today is the day it all begins.”
For several months, with Alward driving the van and younger brother Darrell helping out along the way, Terry Fox ran across the Maritimes, Quebec and into Ontario, with the effort gaining momentum. More media and public attention was raised. Initially, the hope was he could raise $1 million for cancer research. Then when a town was able to raise a dollar for each citizen, it was upped to a dollar for each Canadian. At the time, it meant $24 million.
When he made it to Toronto, Fred was able to join him for his run. The huge reception in Ontario’s capital was overwhelming.
“It was amazing to see the dedication with every step he ran,” Fox said. “When he reached city hall, there were 10,000 people there.”
He would later see Terry in Wawa. Only a few weeks later, on September 1 the family heard on the radio he was in the hospital in Thunder Bay. When Terry was able to call home, everyone found out the cough he had exhibited in northern Ontario was not a cold, but the cancer had spread to his lungs. He would have to stop the Marathon of Hope, at least for a while. He planned to get better and continue his run.
“It was a real shock to hear he couldn’t continue. I was with Terry in Northern Ontario. When I was with him he had a cough. Little did we know, it was because of the cancer. It was a shock.”
While he was being treated, money kept pouring in, and he was able to make his $24 million. However, he did not recover and died on June 28, 1981.
Terry Fox continued to be an inspiration. Terry Fox Runs became a major part of the school year, and others were also involved. Fox said it is international, with runs in China, India, Ireland and other countries. As of last September, they passed the level of raising over $900 million for cancer research. The Terry Fox Foundation and Terry Fox Research Institute continue the work, as Terry said would have to happen.
After the meeting, Fox said he was not sure where his brother got his courage. He is often asked if he thought he could run across Canada. He says no, but you never know. Until you are faced with something that changes your life, you do not know.
“Terry wanted to do something, he wanted to help cancer research. That’s what he came up with.”
Asked what his brother would think of the impact he had 44 years later, Fox said he would probably be surprised and happy.
“When he started, if he knew he changed the whole landscape of cancer research in this country, and he did that singlehandedly, he would be so proud.”
Both mother Betty and father Roly are gone now. Fox said he, Darrell and sister Judy are involved, and when the time comes, maybe their kids will take over. He said he wants everyone to know when they support the Foundation they are contributing to progress on cancer.
“When I’m presenting at a school, a parent will come up to me or a teacher will come up to me and say ‘thank you for Terry. If not for him, my mom or my son might not be here today.’ That’s what I want people to know. It’s still important to keep Terry’s dream alive. We’re getting closer to that day (when cancer is cured).”
by PAUL RAYNER, Recorder staff