Terry Fox

Before leaving St. John's I had to pay homage to a true Canadian hero who has, I believe, become one internatioanally too. This simple marker commemorates the start of a gruelling dream that I don't believe will ever be equalled.
Terry Fox was born in Winnipeg, raised in British Columbia, and was only 18 years old when he was diagnosed with osteogenic sarcoma (bone cancer) and had his right leg amputed 15cm. above the kneee in 1977. While in hospital he was so overcome by the suffering of other cancer patients, many of them children, that he decided he would run across Canada to raise money for cancer research. He would call this journey the "Marathon of Hope"
After 18 months and running over 5,000km. to prepare, he was ready and started his run at this spot on 12 April, 1980 by dipping his leg in the harbour. He ran 42km. each and every day all the way west to just outside Thunder Bay, Ontario, when on 1 September after 143 days and 5,373km. Terry was forced to stop. Cancer had appeared in his lungs, he was flown home to British Columbia where he died on 28 June, 1981, at age 22.
The heroic Canadian was gone, but his legacy lives on, today more than $400 million has been raised worldwide for cancer research through the annual Terry Fox Run, held across Canada and around the world.

Title:	Terry Fox
Username:	JimV
Uploaded:	1 Jul 2007 - 9:36 PM
Camera:	Olympus E-500
Lens:	Zuiko 14-45mm.
Recording media:	JPEG (digital)
Tags:	General, Landscape / travel, Marathon of hope, Marker, Newfoundland, Photo journalism, St.john's, Start, Terry fox
Votes:	13