Dreams of a sports career

On April 12, 1980, one of the most famous races in the history of mankind, Terry Fox's Marathon of Hope, started in the Canadian city of St. John's. This event became a symbol of human courage, willpower and self-sacrifice and forever immortalized the name of a simple amateur athlete who defied a terrible disease.

Fox was born July 28, 1958 in Winnipeg in the family of a switchman on the railway. Eight years later, together with his parents, two brothers and a sister, he moved to Surrey, and two years later - to Port Coquitlam, located in British Columbia.

Already in childhood, Fox became a real passion for sports. In high school, he played baseball, rugby and football, but his main dream was to hit the basketball team. At that time, the young man was not tall and was "completely unsportsmanlike." School coach Bob McGill jokingly said that Terry had “both hands were left, as were both legs.” However, even then, qualities began to appear in him, which later allowed him to cope with numerous difficulties on the path of his life — industriousness, perseverance, and determination. More than anything, he hated to lose.

“Words cannot convey how hard Terry worked. He did not miss a single morning training: when I came to school, he was already waiting outside the door. And he was always the last to leave, ”McGill quotes Theglobeandmail.

All this ultimately helped Fox to fulfill his dream and get into the basketball team. In addition, the young man began to run long distances on the advice of a mentor, although he himself did not enjoy this activity very much. Gradually, he began to receive more and more time on the floor, and by the end of school he had become an indispensable player and was even recognized in his educational institution as the best athlete of the year.

He intended to continue his sports career at Simon Fraser University, where he began to study kinesiology, in order to subsequently become a physical education teacher. However, his plans were not destined to come true.

In November 1976, Fox had a serious car accident, in which, however, he did not receive serious injuries. The only thing that bothered him was the pain in his right knee. But at that time, the basketball season at the university was in full swing, and the athlete decided to postpone a visit to the doctor.

Unpleasant sensations intensified, interfering with full-fledged training. Four months later, Terry finally underwent a medical examination, which revealed that he had osteogenic sarcoma - a malignant tumor of bone tissue.

After graduating from high school, Fox continued to communicate with McGill, who became for him not just a mentor, but also a true friend. Tener was one of the first to find out about the terrible diagnosis. However, even in a difficult situation, the young man showed his usual presence of mind.

“Well, coach, you already know what's wrong with me. I will try to defeat the disease. Are you with me? ”McGill recalled his words.

  • Terry Fox with a prosthetic leg
  • Gettyimages.ru
  • © Boris Spremo

Preparing for the Feat

From this moment began the main struggle in the life of Fox. He was to undergo a 16-month course of chemotherapy, which, by his own admission, was exhausting not only physically, but also psychologically. In addition, it was not possible to save the limb, so he faced, perhaps, the most difficult situation for any ambitious athlete - amputation of the leg 15 cm above the knee and the subsequent installation of the prosthesis.

It was not so easy to get used to a new leg, but Terry showed his strength of character here too. With each attempt, he stood more confident, and after three weeks he could already walk fully. Gradually, the athlete began to train, and even returned to his favorite game. At the invitation of another legendary Canadian, the future three-time Paralympic Games winner Rick Hansen, he joined the wheelchair-friendly basketball team. Despite the weakened health due to chemotherapy, Fox showed excellent results and three times became the champion of the country.

Illness and terrible memories acquired during his hospital stay about how others suffer and die from cancer made Fox think about helping others. He wanted to not only draw public attention to the problem, but also to inspire fellow sufferers around the world. The idea of ​​running a marathon was prompted by the story of Dick Traum, the first athlete with a prosthesis who completed the famous New York race.

However, Terry could not be content with the classic distance and decided to cross Canada - from the east coast to the west - every day, running 42 km. Of course, such an ambitious undertaking was impossible to realize without serious preparation. After completing the chemotherapy course, he began intensive training and in 1979 took part in the 27 km race.

  • Terry Fox at a distance
  • Gettyimages.ru
  • © Bettmann

Two and a half years after the amputation, he was ready to proceed with his plan. Difficulties were caused only by lack of financing. Then the runner asked for help in organizing a marathon at the Canadian Cancer Society. In a letter, he explained that he wanted to collect $ 1 donations from each resident of the country, so that then he would transfer the amount collected to cancer research.

"We need your help. People in cancer hospitals around the world need those who believe in miracles. I am not a dreamer and I do not claim that my marathon will lead to any concrete answer or cure for cancer. But I believe in miracles. I have to believe, ”Fox said in a message.

The “Canadian Cancer Society” reacted to the idea of ​​Fox with skepticism, but expressed their willingness to help, provided that he himself finds sponsors, and also receives a medical certificate stating that his health can withstand physical exertion. After he sent the letters to a number of corporations, some of them agreed to contribute to the marathon: they provided a trailer and fuel for him, sports shoes, money and provided food.

"Marathon of Hope"

On April 12, 1980, Fox lowered his prosthesis into the Atlantic Ocean. After that, he scooped up water in two bottles in order to save one as a souvenir and pour the second at the finish into the Pacific Ocean. With these symbolic gestures, the "Marathon of Hope" began.

Mid-spring in Canada is not the most favorable time of the year, so at the beginning of the journey the Terry race was also complicated by weather conditions. On the road he was accompanied by his close friend Doug Alvart, who was preparing food and helping to raise money. Subsequently, their friends recognized that to a large extent the marathon was held thanks to his enthusiasm and self-sacrifice.

Of course, there were other difficulties. So, on the first kilometers the prosthesis could not bear the load and the runner had to change it to a new one. In mid-May, Fox felt a pain in his leg, but did not go to the doctors. In addition, from time to time, cars traveling on the roads prevented him. Sometimes the amount of donations was also disappointing due to insufficient media interest in the figure of a little-known amateur athlete.

However, as the distance passed, more and more people learned the story of a brave young man who claimed that "there is nothing impossible if you set a goal for yourself." And now the crowds of fans went to the side of the highway to cheer him up. The number of donations increased, which also gave Fox moral strength. Literally all of Canada held its breath, watching the athlete move.

Already on June 28, Terry arrived in Ontario, where he was greeted as a real star. The situation was repeated in Ottawa on July 1, Canada Day, the most significant public holiday. Eyewitnesses compared his arrival with the Queen’s visit. People went out to greet the national hero, and the police accompanied him throughout the province.

But neither sincere support of millions of people, nor inhuman willpower could prevent the inevitable. In early September, Fox felt a chest pain that he could no longer ignore. He had to seek the help of doctors who made a disappointing conclusion - the disease returned, metastases spread to the lungs. In this regard, it was already impossible to continue the marathon. On September 8, 1980, the race ended after 5373 km of track. For 143 days, Terry crossed the provinces of Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec and Ontario.

The amount of donations collected by Fox during the marathon is estimated at approximately $ 1.7 million. However, payments continued to come after the end of the race, and in February the amount exceeded $ 24 million, equal to the population of Canada.

The misfortune not only rallied the athlete’s home country, but also did not leave people indifferent around the world. Until the very end of Terry, messages were received with support from ordinary people, and from public figures, and politicians, including the Queen of Great Britain and Pope John Paul II. Fox was awarded the highest civilian state award - the title of Companion of the Order of Canada, and also recognized as the country's best athlete in 1980.

Despite new chemotherapy courses and experimental treatments, the cancer did not recede. In June 1981, Fox developed pneumonia and fell into a coma. June 28, the athlete passed away.

  • Monument to Terry Fox at Thunder Bay
  • © Wikimedia Commons

McGill recalled that even in the last days his ward continued to think about others.

  • Monument to Terry Fox at Thunder Bay
  • © Wikimedia Commons

“By then, he was again in the hospital under the influence of drugs. And then something wonderful happened. His chamber was filled with sunlight, Terry opened his eyes, smiled and said: “Hello, coach. Do you think people will remember? Will my dream continue to live? ”Said McGill.

The death of a marathon runner was perceived as a national tragedy, 240 people attended his funeral in Ottawa, and watched them even more on TV screens. National flags were lowered throughout Canada, and Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, in his speech, called him a man who inspired others, "showing an example of the triumph of the human spirit over difficult trials."

Fox did not live exactly a month before his 23rd birthday. Its short but vibrant life inspires millions of people around the world. And with the help of the collected funds, he contributed to the development of methods for treating osteogenic sarcoma and other oncological diseases.