Terry Fox - Canadian founder of the Marathon of Hope. Diagnosed
with a malignant tumor, he sought to overcome the odds. In his
journey, he help raise millions for cancer research.
"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."
According to The
Terry Fox Foundation, he was born on July 28th, 1958 in Winnipeg,
Manitoba and raised in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, a community near
Vancouver on Canada's west coast. Terry passed away on June 28, 1981 at Royal
Columbian Hospital, New Westminster, B.C., one month short of his twenty-third
birthday.
A monument from Terry marks the spot where a saddened nation watched as Terry
was forced to end his marathon. You can visit The
Terry Fox monument near Thunder Bay Harbour and Sibley Peninsula. The one legged runner was forced to end his marathon a few hundred yards from this monument
when it was discovered that the cancer had spread to his lungs.
The Terry Fox Laboratory
is a "multidisciplinary Unit at the forefront of research to improve cancer diagnosis and treatment. Current emphasis is on the cellular and molecular mechanisms of normal cell growth, differentiation and cell-cell interactions and how these may
be altered to bring about malignant transformation." Terry's Marathon of Hope had raised over $24 million for cancer research.
The Terry Fox Monument at the foot of Robson Street in Vancouver. Stainless steel panels depict Terry Fox
(below) as well as a map of Canada showing Terry's run.
