On this day 40 years ago Terry Fox, a 21 year old Canadian who lost a leg to cancer, began an east to west cross-Canada run to raise money and awareness for cancer research. He ran the equivalent of a full marathon every day and made it 143 days and 5,373 km before he lost his battle with cancer

PutridCloister on April 12nd, 2020 at 22:53 UTC »

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_Fox

More information

Fox remains a prominent figure in Canadian folklore. His determination united the nation; people from all walks of life lent their support to his run and his memory inspires pride in all regions of the country. A 1999 national survey named him as Canada's greatest hero, and he finished second to Tommy Douglas in the 2004 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation program The Greatest Canadian. Fox's heroic status has been attributed to his image as an ordinary person attempting a remarkable and inspirational feat. Others have argued that Fox's greatness derives from his audacious vision, his determined pursuit of his goal, his ability to overcome challenges such as his lack of experience and the very loneliness of his venture. As Fox's advocate on The Greatest Canadian, media personality Sook-Yin Lee compared him to a classic hero, Phidippides, the runner who delivered the news of the Battle of Marathon before dying, and asserted that Fox "embodies the most cherished Canadian values: compassion, commitment, perseverance". She highlighted the juxtaposition between his celebrity, brought about by the unforgettable image he created, and his rejection of the trappings of that celebrity. Typically amongst Canadian icons, Fox is an unconventional hero, admired but not without flaws. An obituary in the Canadian Family Physician emphasized his humanity and noted that his anger – at his diagnosis, at press misrepresentations and at those he saw as encroaching on his independence – spoke against ascribing sainthood for Fox, and thus placed his achievements within the reach of all.

In September 2013, Dr. Jay Wunder, a sarcoma specialist at Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, noted that survival rates for osteosarcoma have increased dramatically since Fox's death. Most patients "get limb-sparing or limb-reconstructive surgery. Now the cure rate's almost up to 80 per cent in younger patients. In older patients it's more like 70 per cent. ... So that's a pretty big turnaround in a couple of decades." These advances in treatment might be partly attributable to the $750 million raised since Fox started his Marathon of Hope, as of January 2018.

elvenbabey on April 13rd, 2020 at 00:02 UTC »

Us Canadians absolutely adore him, & for good reason. He really is one of our nation’s greatest treasures.

Cyrano55 on April 13rd, 2020 at 00:31 UTC »

When i was 12 years old. I had been in an accident and suffered spinal damage. I couldn't play little league anymore. Was depressed. Feeling sorry for myself. Doctors said id rely mostly on a wheelchair, but might be able to use crutches for short durations at home. Then i saw this story on TV. It literally lit a fire in me. I was immensely inspired. I worked out and was quickly ONLY using crutches. Able to support weight on my legs. I got a paper route when everyone said i was unrealistic and couldn't handle it. I carried a full canvas bag full of folded papers through my neighborhood on crutches in the winter through rain and snow. In the summer i mowed lawns. Over time i was able to walk with a cane. It was absolutely because of Terry Fox. His story changed my entire attitude. And my life. What an amazing human being. 💪