Survey · September 10, 2021

Terry's Journey: The Marathon of Hope

As documented September 10, 2021.

Survey date

September 10, 2021

Condition

Good

Condition notes

Three-panel display in good condition at rest area.

Inscription

TERRY'S JOURNEY: THE MARATHON OF HOPE [PANEL 1 - Biography] Terry Fox was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, but raised in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, a community near Vancouver on Canada's west coast. An active teenager involved in many sports, Terry was only 18 years old when he was diagnosed with bone cancer and forced to have his right leg amputated six inches above the knee in 1977. The night before his operation, Terry read an article about an amputee who had competed in the New York Marathon. Indirectly that story along with Terry's observations of the intense suffering of cancer patients, set the stage for what would ultimately become the most important decision of his young life. In 1980, Terry Fox inspired the nation by attempting to run across Canada on an artificial leg. He called his quest the Marathon of Hope. His mission was to raise money and awareness for cancer research in Canada. With little fanfare, Terry started his journey in St. John's, Newfoundland on April 12, 1980. Although it was difficult to garner attention in the beginning, enthusiasm soon grew, and the money collected along his route began to mount. He ran, on average, 42 kilometres a day through Canada's Atlantic provinces, Quebec, and Ontario. It was a journey that Canadians never forgot. However, on September 1st, after 143 days and 5,373 kilometres, Terry was forced to stop his Run outside of Thunder Bay, Ontario because the cancer had reappeared in his lungs. An entire nation was stunned and saddened. Terry passed away on June 28, 1981 at age 22. The heroic Canadian was gone, but his legacy was just beginning. To date, hundreds of millions of dollars worldwide has been raised for cancer research in Terry's name. [PANEL 2 - Timeline 1958-1981] July 28, 1958 - Terrance Stanley Fox is born in Winnipeg, Manitoba. March 9, 1977 - Terry discovers he has a malignant tumour in his right leg; the leg is amputated six inches above the knee. The night before his amputation he reads about an amputee runner and dreams of running. February 1979 - Terry begins training for his "Marathon of Hope", a cross-Canada run to raise money for cancer research. During training, he runs over 5,000 kilometres (3,000 miles). October 15, 1979 - Terry writes to potential supporters: "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." April 12, 1980 - St. John's, Newfoundland - Terry dips his artificial leg into the Atlantic Ocean and sets out on his odyssey. He runs an average of 42 kilometres a day (26 miles) through six provinces. June 28, 1981 - After treatment with an experimental drug at Royal Columbian Hospital, New Westminster, B.C., one month short of his twenty-third birthday. In that time, Terry said, "People thought I was going through hell. Look how lucky I was. I had 18 months to think and do. God said 'OK Fox, you got another half chance here, don't blow it.' Maybe I was being called to leave my mark on Earth in order to test my ability." September 1, 1980 - After 143 days and 5,373 kilometres (3,339 miles), Terry has to stop running outside of Thunder Bay, Ontario. His primary cancer has spread to a secondary location, his lungs. Before he flew back to BC for treatment Terry told, "I'm going to do my very best. I'll fight. I promise I won't give up." September 2, 1980 - Isadore Sharp, President of Four Seasons Hotels, telegrams the Fox family with a commitment to organize a fundraising run that would be held every year in Terry's name. He writes, "You started it. We will not rest until your dream to find a cure for cancer is realized." February 1, 1981 - Terry's hope of raising $1 from every Canadian to fight cancer is realized. The national population reaches 24.1 million; the first Terry Fox Marathon of Hope fund totals $24.17 million. July 17, 1981 - British Columbia names a 2,639 metre peak in the Rocky Mountains (83 feet), 80 kilometres west of Jasper, Alberta, as a lasting symbol of Terry's courage. A permanent radio site was placed on the mountain top to mark the occasion. July 30, 1981 - An 83 kilometre (50 mile) section of the Trans Canada Highway, between Thunder Bay and Nipigon, is renamed the Terry Fox Courage Highway, in his honour. July 30, 1981 - The Canadian government creates a $5 million endowment fund named the Terry Fox Humanitarian Award to provide scholarships each year in honour of Terry Fox. The award is presented to students who demonstrate the highest ideals and qualities of citizenship and humanitarian service. August 29, 1981 - Terry Fox is posthumously inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame. September 13, 1981 - The first Terry Fox Run, held at over 760 sites in Canada and around the world, attracts 300,000 participants and raises $3.5 million. [PANEL 3 - Legacy Timeline 1982-Present] April 13, 1982 - Canada Post issues a Terry Fox Stamp. Prior to this, no other stamp had been issued until 10 years after the death of the figure. Another stamp is issued on January 17, 2000 as part of a special millennium collection. April 20, 1982 - The Marathon of Hope fund now totals $27.8 million and is allocated to cancer research projects in the Terry Fox New Initiative Programs of the National Cancer Institute of Canada. June 26, 1982 - A nine-foot bronze statue of Terry Fox is unveiled at Terry Fox Lookout, a site just off the Terry Fox Courage Highway, 12 km west of Thunder Bay, Ontario. The site overlooks Lake Superior near the location where he ended his 5,373 kilometre run on September 1, 1980. May 26, 1988 - The Terry Fox Run becomes a Trust, independent of the Canadian Cancer Society. The organization becomes known as The Terry Fox Foundation. December 1990 - The Sports Network (TSN) names Terry Fox "Athlete of the Decade"; the field included Wayne Gretzky and Michael Jordan. September 16, 1990 - The 10th Annual Terry Fox Run marks the year of the tenth anniversary of Terry's Marathon of Hope. September 22, 1996 - Over 1,000,000 people participate in the Terry Fox Run in Canada and around the world. June 30, 1999 - Terry is named "Canada's Greatest Hero" in an internet survey sponsored by the National Post newspaper. September 15, 2002 - Revenues from the 22nd Terry Fox Run bring the total money raised in Terry's name close to $360 million. Today... - The "Terry Fox Run" is held in over 53 countries, hosting over 500 runs, and continues to grow. It successfully raises millions of dollars annually for the on-going research into Cancer treatment.

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