Terry Fox | |
|---|---|
 Terry Fox in Toronto during his Marathon of Hope cross-country run (July 1980) | |
| Born | Terrance Stanley Fox July 28, 1958 Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
| Died | June 28, 1981 (aged 22) New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada |
| Cause of death | Cancer |
| Education | Simon Fraser University |
| Known for | Marathon of Hope |
| Title | Companion of the Order of Canada |
Terrance Stanley Fox CC OD (July 28, 1958 – June 28, 1981) was a Canadian athlete, humanitarian, and cancer research activist. In 1980, having had one leg amputated due to cancer, he embarked on a cross-Canada run to raise money and awareness for cancer research. The annual Terry Fox Run, first held in 1981, has grown to involve millions of participants in over 60 countries and is now the world's largest one-day fundraiser for cancer research; over C$850 million has been raised in his name as of September 2022.[1]
Fox was a distance runner and basketball player for his high school, now named after him, and Simon Fraser University. His right leg was amputated in 1977 after he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, though he continued to run using an artificial leg. He also played wheelchair basketball in Vancouver, winning three national championships.
In 1980, he began the Marathon of Hope to raise money for cancer research. He hoped to raise one dollar from each of Canada's 24 million people. He began with little fanfare from St John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, in April and ran the equivalent of a full marathon every day. Fox had become a national star by the time he reached Ontario; he made numerous public appearances with businessmen, athletes, and politicians in his efforts to raise money. He was forced to end his run outside Thunder Bay when the cancer spread to his lungs. His hopes of overcoming the disease and completing his run ended when he died nine months later.
Fox was the youngest person named a Companion of the Order of Canada and won the 1980 Lou Marsh Award as the nation's top sportsman. He was named Canada's Newsmaker of the Year in both 1980 and 1981 by The Canadian Press. Considered a national hero, he has had many buildings, statues, roads, and parks named in his honour across the country.
- ^ "The Terry Fox Foundation asks Canadians to Join us for our "biggest try ever" for Cancer Research". The Terry Fox Foundation. April 12, 2021. Retrieved September 23, 2022.