TERRY FOXS MARATHON OF HOPE

By: Isabella

British Columbia - Terry Fox was 18 years old

when he was diagnosed with a special bone cancer
called Osteogenic Sarcoma.Five days after the
diagnosis his leg was amputated. While lying in
bed the night before surgery, Terri Fleming, Terrys
old basketball coach, came in and gave him a
newspaper article on Dick Traum, the first amputee
to complete the New York Marathon. Terry was so
inspired that he decided to embark on a crosscountry journey in order to raise money for cancer
research. His goal was to raise $1 from every
Canadian. Terry started the marathon of hope on
April 12, 1980 at the age of 21 beginning in St.
Johns Newfoundland. He was supposed to end in
Port Renfrew. After almost 5 months of running 42
km a day, the equivalent of a marathon,
sometimes in harsh weather and pain, he had to
stop on September 1 just outside of Thunder Bay,
Ontario. His cancer had spread to his lungs. Terry
died on June 28, 1981 at the age of 22. Since then
7 statues have been made in his likeness. Also 14
schools, 32 streets, a provincial park and a

mountain were named after him. Now $500 million

has been raised in Terrys name.