Marathon of Hope

As my little boy's school is going to hold its annual Terry Fox Run on the last day of September 2010, he fetched a book about Terry Fox from the library a while ago.  He used to join the run or more appropriately walk for three years in a row when he was still at Children's House.  Now he seems to understand to dig more after he turns to Grade 1 this year.

I have been reading the book with the little guy for the past week.  I have to admit that, even though I had heard his name so many times before, I had never cared to know about the story of Terry Fox until now .  After we finished the story yesterday, I was totally shocked and deeply touched. 


Terry was born in an ordinary family in Manitoba, Canada.in 1958.  Like any other boy of his age, he was an enthusiastic athlete, playing soccer, rugby and basketball from childhood.  When he was still dreaming to become physical education teacher upon graduation from the university, he was diagnosed with  osteosarcoma, a kind of bone cancer in 1977.  After his right leg was amputated, he went through chemotherapy for 16 months.  During this period, he experienced the unbearable pain himself and witnessed how other fellow cancer patients suffered and died.  From then on, he had found a new mission in his life: To raise the awareness of cancer research among ordinary people and seek their support to fund cancer research to provide cure for cancer patients by running across Canada.  After rigorous training to get to use to run with his artificial right leg, he began the Marathon of Hope in April 1980 from the east coast of Canada.  His endeavour inspired so many people across Canada and worldwide.  After running 5,373 kilometres for 143 days, his journey ended abruptly in the mid-point with the unfortunate return of cancer to his lung.  Terry Fox died in 1981, just one month before his 23th birthday.  His grand dream to run across Canada did not materialize.  Nevertheless, his legacy has remained.  By the time of his death, he raised close to $23 million.  In the same year, Terry Fox Foundation was established and headed by Darrell Fox, his younger brother  who had accompanied him throughout the whole journey.  Also in the same year, the annual Terry Fox Run was first held.  Over the past decades, this event has grown to involve millions of participants in 60 countries and is now the world's largest one-day fundraiser for cancer research. To date, more than CAD500 million have been raised in his name to the Foundation. 


My little boy asked many questions during this week-long reading.  In response to one of his questions about cancer, I told him the story of my mentor's wife whom he always addresses as auntie.  She had tumor in her foot a couple of years ago.  With her usual optimistic attitude, it was cured.  Last year, however, two new tumors were spotted in her lung and breast.  She underwent two surgeries within one day at St. Margaret's Hospital in Toronto followed by a series of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.  Every time I see her after she finished all her therapy, she still talks so merrily and looks healthier than I am.  Initially I felt so sorry for her.  Afterwards I have found it unnecessary.  Why?  Because she does not need sympathy.  She has the same firing spirit as Terry Fox and therefore they are the survivor in their own respective way.


When I picked up my little guy at school this afternoon, he eagerly showed me his pledge for Terry Fox Run the next day on a small paper leaf pinned to the wall in the classroom along with other leaves that have formed a tree.  On the paper leaf, he wrote: 23 laps to save auntie.  I smiled.  When a generation has been educated to believe in compassion and voluntary giving since childhood through a young Canadian named Terry Fox, the Marathon of Hope continues on.