View From the Legislature

There was a mid 1980’s song whose chorus screamed out “I need a hero!” Today, as much as ever, that would seem true. Fortunately, as Canadians, we have just such a hero who even though he has been gone for nearly four decades still offers Canadians the kind of inspiration that we need in these times and in all times.

Terry Fox as much as any Canadian embodies the things that we as a country value. Among the many honours that have been given to Terry is the naming of the annual August long weekend Monday in Manitoba as Terry Fox Day. So this Monday, August 3rd, as Manitobans are enjoying another summer day in our province we should take the time to reflect on the person who the day is now named after. And in the challenging times that we live, how Terry Fox dealt with personal struggle and challenge is something we can all draw encouragement from.

Fox was born in Winnipeg in 1958 and shortly before his 20th birthday had a malignant tumour in his right leg which resulted in an amputation of the leg above the knee. A couple of years after the amputation he began training, with the help of an artificial leg, to run a marathon across Canada to raise money for cancer research and awareness. Dubbed the “Marathon of Hope”, it began in the spring of 1980 in St John’s Newfoundland.

Terry’s Marathon of Hope would not be completed as the cancer returned and he would stop running just outside of Thunder Bay, Ontario in September of 1980. He had run 5,373 kilometres and along the way had ignited the heart of a nation. By February of 1981 Terry Fox had reached his goal of raising $1 from every Canadian as funds totaling $24.17 million poured into the Marathon of Hope even though he was no longer running. Sadly, in June of 1981, at the age of only 22, Terry passed away.

But as Canadians know, Terry’s dream was just beginning and over the next decade Terry Fox Runs were held around the world and have become annual events in many places. Today, over $800 million dollars has been raised in Terry’s name to support cancer research. What started as a dream by Terry to help others, turned into a movement that not only supports those battling cancer, but inspires all those who are in need of encouragement.

Today, Canada like the rest of the world is dealing with a pandemic. And while that is a collective struggle, within that are daily individual challenges that Canadians continue to face. And as we look for inspiration and hope, we are fortunate on this August long weekend to have a very clear reminder of what true Canadian heroism and inspiration looks like. I hope that you have a weekend filled with hope and optimism. Happy Terry Fox Day!