When he was just 18 years of age, Terry Fox was diagnosed with bone cancer, resulting in the amputation of his right leg. During his hospitalization, Terry was so overcome with emotion when learning of the suffering that so many of his fellow cancer patients faced that he decided he would run across Canada in effort to raise money for cancer research.
Commencing April 12th, 1980, Terry began his journey across Canada by dipping his prosthetic leg into the Atlantic Ocean. He would run 26 miles per day, 7 days per week, for 143 days. On September 1st, 1980, while just outside of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Terry began to develop chest pain. Shockingly, Terry’s cancer had not only returned, but it had also metastasized to his lungs.
On June 28th, 1981, Terry Fox lost his hard-fought battle with cancer. However, this was not the end of Terry Fox. In fact, it was just the beginning of his legacy, as it was Terry’s cross-Canada run – known as the Marathon of Hope – that would later spawn the inception of the Terry Fox Foundation and, subsequently, the Terry Fox Run – an annual run to commemorate and continue to honour Terry's wishes.
Thanks to the dedication of Canadians and individuals from all over the world, the Terry Fox Foundation has raised over $750 million to date, and continues to make strides in cancer research. If you would like to support the Terry Fox Foundation, there are many ways in which you can get involved. Some of these ways include volunteering with and/or donating to the Terry Fox Foundation, participating in a local Terry Fox Run at your school or in your community, by joining ‘Terry’s Team’ as a cancer survivor, or by leaving your own legacy. By dedicating your time, you help support the fight against cancer as well as support the funding of life-saving cancer research.
For more information on cancer as well as resources and help on how to cope with a cancer diagnosis, visit Dr. Ali Ghahary's website at http://alighahary.ca or follow him on Twitter at @DrAliGhahary.
Commencing April 12th, 1980, Terry began his journey across Canada by dipping his prosthetic leg into the Atlantic Ocean. He would run 26 miles per day, 7 days per week, for 143 days. On September 1st, 1980, while just outside of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Terry began to develop chest pain. Shockingly, Terry’s cancer had not only returned, but it had also metastasized to his lungs.
On June 28th, 1981, Terry Fox lost his hard-fought battle with cancer. However, this was not the end of Terry Fox. In fact, it was just the beginning of his legacy, as it was Terry’s cross-Canada run – known as the Marathon of Hope – that would later spawn the inception of the Terry Fox Foundation and, subsequently, the Terry Fox Run – an annual run to commemorate and continue to honour Terry's wishes.
Thanks to the dedication of Canadians and individuals from all over the world, the Terry Fox Foundation has raised over $750 million to date, and continues to make strides in cancer research. If you would like to support the Terry Fox Foundation, there are many ways in which you can get involved. Some of these ways include volunteering with and/or donating to the Terry Fox Foundation, participating in a local Terry Fox Run at your school or in your community, by joining ‘Terry’s Team’ as a cancer survivor, or by leaving your own legacy. By dedicating your time, you help support the fight against cancer as well as support the funding of life-saving cancer research.
For more information on cancer as well as resources and help on how to cope with a cancer diagnosis, visit Dr. Ali Ghahary's website at http://alighahary.ca or follow him on Twitter at @DrAliGhahary.