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I recently ran across the story of a young man named Terry Fox that really moved, inspired and motivated me. I felt compelled to share... Terry Fox was a young Canadian whose battle with bone cancer prompted him to run across his country, despite already having had one leg amputated. Fox was diagnosed with osteogenetic sarcoma in 1977 and had his right leg amputated just above the knee. To draw attention to the disease and to raise funds for research, Fox announced he would run a marathon per day (more than 26 miles) across Canada, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. He began his trek on 12 April 1980 in St. John's, Newfoundland and ran until he was almost to Thunder Bay, Ontario. (According to the Terry Fox Foundation, he ran 3,339 miles in 143 days.) Fox was forced to abort his trip on 1 September 1980, when he learned cancer had spread to his lungs. He died less than a year later, a month shy of his 23rd birthday. His strength in the face of adversity made Fox a national hero, and since his death the Terry Fox Foundation has raised over 500 hundred million dollars for cancer research and treatment.Terry's story truly exemplifies what the human spirit can accomplish and the body can endure. Every one of us can make a difference. We should not take for granted anything and should make the most of everyday... To donate or learn more about Terry Fox go to: www.terryfox.org |
