Terry was described as a gritty, determined athlete who never gave up on anything. About 20 km away, in Burnaby, was Michael. He was described as small, funny and was already acting on Canadian TV as a teenager. He left home at 18 to go to Los Angeles to chase his acting dream.
When Terry was 18, he was diagnosed with bone cancer, and his right leg was amputated above the knee. On April 12, 1980, Terry dipped his artificial leg in the Atlantic Ocean at St. John's, Newfoundland and began his run across Canada to raise money for cancer research. He called it the "Marathon of Hope". Every day for 143 days, Terry ran close to a marathon. He ran 5373 kms before he was forced to stop.
On September 1, 1980, near Thunder Bay the cancer returned to his lungs. His dream of running across Canada was over. On June 28,1981, just a month short of his 23rd birthday, Terry passed away from osteosarcoma. Before his death he had reached his dream of raising one dollar for every Canadian, over $24 million. A section of the Trans-Canada Highway between Thunder Bay and Nipigon Ontario was later renamed the "Terry Fox Courage Highway" to honor where he had to stop his run.
In his memory Canadians have kept his legacy alive. Every September the Terry Fox Run takes place. More than $850 million has been raised in his name.
Michael J. Fox became a well-known actor as Alex P. Keaton in "Family Ties". He soared to popularity as Marty McFly in the movie, "Back to the Future". In 1991 at the age of 29 he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. He was able to keep it a secret for 7 years. When he went public was when he started his fight. In 2000 he started the Michael J. Fox Foundation. Today it's the world's largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson's research with more than $3 Billion invested in the search for a cure.
The article I read identified these remarkable Canadians as, "Two Boys, One Legacy". Two boys with the last name Fox are making a difference. They both made the same decision "to fight for everyone else".
I will never forget watching Terry run/hop every day of his Marathon of Hope. He had that curly hair just bouncing as he went along the highway. I didn't know anything about his plan to go across Canada to raise money for cancer research when he dipped his leg in the ocean. I don't think many people in Canada did, we only had the news to keep us current. Canada would become captivated with this young man slowly making his way down the highways, one hop-step at a time. It was a very sad day when we watched the stretcher Terry was laying on being put in the back of an ambulance. He had oxygen on and said these words, "If I don't make it, the Marathon of Hope must continue". I am sure that young man didn't realize the impact that he was about to have on the world. He would be a household name in Canada. The Marathon of Hope would continue and so much more.
In Terry's honor there are monuments of him all over the country. Close to where I live at Pelican Lake is the "Terry Fox Memorial Park". A plaque on a large rock tells the story of Terry. Terry's maternal grandparents were from Ninette, he spent several summers there and was baptized in the United Church Manse.
I fell in love with Michael J. Fox as Alex P. Keaton on Family Ties. His sense of humor came naturally to his character. That sense of humor continues to shine through in every interview he does to this day.
On October 2, Michael J. Fox was promoted to "Companion of the Order of Canada". It is the highest civilian honor. The Governor General presented Michael with the insignia medal at Rideau Hall in Ottawa. He accepted that award in a wheelchair.
In true Canadian fashion, we are quietly and humbly proud of these two "Fox" men. Michael is now 65 years old and is in an advanced stage of Parkinson's disease. For 36 years he has lived with the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease. We have watched as his condition deteriorates. Terry would be 68 years old if he was alive. Just imagine how easy it would have been for him to run if he had one of those fancy artificial legs that amputees use today. Terry wanted the Marathon of Hope to continue if he didn't make it. I am sure he never imagined that every year in September there would be money raised through the "Terry Fox Run".
These two boys with the last name "Fox" are true Canadian heroes and an inspiration to people far beyond Canada. In closing, I am sharing two of their favorite quotes. As Canadians we need to be reminded that these two men made the decision to make a difference for others. Wouldn't the world be a better place if that was how everyone led their lives.
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