When asked to think about the most influential people in Canadian history, Terry Fox is often one of the names that come to mind. Thirty-six years later, Terry is still considered a national hero… And for good reason. Terry’s story of strength, courage, and determination is one like no other and continues to inspire countless Canadians. 
At the age of eighteen, Terry Fox was diagnosed with bone cancer in his right knee. After amputation and chemotherapy, Terry left the hospital with an artificial leg along with a newfound awareness of those who continued to struggle with cancer. During his time undergoing treatment, Terry was exposed to suffering like he had never seen before. He heard doctors tell children that they had a 15 percent chance of living in between screams of pain and grief. He witnessed young, strong bodies weaken and deteriorate through disease, and learned that only one-third of the patients survived. He was one of the lucky ones.
Terry left the cancer clinic with a burden of responsibility of helping those who were not as fortunate as he was in leaving the clinic alive. “You can’t just leave something like that and try to forget it,” Terry stated in an interview. “I had to try and do something about it.” Terry also wrote in a letter, “Somewhere the hurting must stop… and I was determined to take myself to the limit for those causes.”
Somewhere the hurting must stop.
With this determination, Terry spent the next fourteen months training with his artificial leg. Then he proceeded to tell his family that he was going to run east to west across Canada, hoping to raise $1 million for cancer research.
On April 12, 1980, Terry dipped his artificial leg in the cold and murky waters of St. John’s harbour, and began the Marathon of Hope. With his best friend Doug Alward and brother Darrell travelling behind him in a van, Terry proceeded his journey. He did so by running 26 miles a day, the distance equivalent to a marathon.
Although many did not know about Terry in the early days of the Marathon of Hope, word of this nineteen-year-old-boy with one leg running across Canada quickly began to spread. Soon, cities across the country were waiting for his arrival to support and encourage him and he became an inspirational hero to individuals across the nation. Increasingly more money was being donated to the Marathon of Hope and Terry expanded his goal from the initial $1 million, to $22 million — one dollar for every Canadian.
As he approached the city of Thunderbay on September 1, 1980, Terry stopped and asked to be taken to the hospital. On a stretcher, he announced that cancer had spread to his lungs and he could not continue the Marathon. However, despite the excruciating pain he was enduring, Terry stated, “If there is any way to get out there again and finish it, I will.”
Terry Fox passed away on June 28, 1981. He had run 3,339 miles and raised $24.17 million, reaching Terry’s dream of raising $1 for every Canadian. 
To this day, Terry is recognized as a national hero. He is titled one of the Greatest Canadians and has several statues in his commemoration. It is individuals like Terry Fox that played a huge role in Canadian history, that shaped the country in the way it is today. Through annual Terry Fox Runs that are held across the country, and the Terry Fox Foundation that continues to raise thousands of dollars for cancer research, Terry’s story still prospers and lives within the heart of Canadians.
