Terry Fox, An inspiring story of his run acrsoss Canada in 1980

Terry Fox was born in Winipeg in 1958 and grew up British Columbia in a traditonal working class family and one of four children. Terry was a talented sportsmen who hoped to teach physical education after graduating from Univiersity. Tradegy struck when he was diagnsoed with osteosarcoma of the right knee in 1977. His leg was amputated and he underwent a series of courses of chemotherpay to improve his chances of survival. In 1979, Terry started training in ernest to fulfil his ambition of running across Canada.

His ambition was to run across Canada from St John's, Newfoundland to Stanley Park in Vancouver covering almost 5300 miles by running 200 daily marathons in succession. Terry began his run on 12th April 1980 in an era before running became more inclusive and in a period when running shoes and prosthetic limbs had not benefited from the technological advances of the 1980s andd 90s.

Terry was supported by a van driven by his friend Doug Alward. The media interest and publicity associated with his run grew with each passing day. Terry would often raise money for his "Marathon of Hope" by giving speeches or interviews.

Toward the end of August, Terry's health began to deteriorate and on September 1st he was transferred to hospital where further investigations diagnoses secondary tumous in his lungs. Terry had battled through a series of chemotherapy treatments, but died o the 28th June 1981. A memorial has been placed close to where his un ended near Ontario. Terry had knotched up 3 339 miles over 143 days and would have completed a trans-USA crossing if he had chosen an easier route.

The Terry Fox Foundation has become one of the leading charities for research into cancer and raised more than $350 million.