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Family and friends huddled in a cold rain on the St. John's waterfront Tuesday for the unveiling of a monument on the spot where Terry Fox began his Marathon of Hope 25 years ago to the day.
Terry Fox, 22, forced to abandon his Marathon of Hope across Canada Sept. 2, 1980, died of cancer June 28, 1981. (CP PHOTO/Chuck Stoody)
"It's a day full of a lot of happiness and some sadness," Fox's mother, Betty, told several dozen people who gathered where Fox dipped his artificial leg into the Atlantic Ocean to start his cross-Canada run on April 12, 1980.
Fox lost his right leg to cancer three years earlier and, moved by the suffering of children undergoing treatment with him, was determined to raise money for research.
With his best friend, Doug Alward, and later his younger brother, Darrell, at his side, Fox ran a marathon a day - 42 kilometres - for more than four months.
For 5,373 kilometres and 143 days, Fox battled wind and snow, then stifling heat and pain, before having to stop outside Thunder Bay, Ont., because of a recurrence of cancer that eventually killed him.
Rolly Fox recalled seeing his son dip his foot in St. John's harbour on television the night the run began.
"It's hard to believe it's been that long," he said during Tuesday's ceremony. "It seems like yesterday.
"Because we live with it every day, it seems like just a few days ago that Terry started."
It was also raining the day Fox started the run, and two days later he would battle a typical Newfoundland spring snowstorm as he made his way across his first province.
The waterfront monument, made of brown slate, is engraved with Fox's name and Mile O, indicating the run's starting location.
Part of the inscription reads: This slate marks the spot where one man's dream began and where a nation's hope lives on . . . His run continues always in our nation's soul.
The day before they helped unveil the monument, Alward and Darrell Fox ran a marathon out of St. John's in the Canadian hero's honour.
"(We) wanted to do the first 42 kilometres to get some sense of what it was like for Terry," Alward said.
"When we went across Canada, I doubt if I ran 10 kilometres the whole five months on the road because I was busy in the van."
The Monday marathon reminded Alward of Fox's incredible athletic feat.
"It's so amazing and I'm so pleased that people are still pursuing Terry's dream for cancer research," he said.
As he flew out from British Columbia on the weekend, Fox's older brother, Fred, read Terry's journal entries from those first few days. Terry wrote about wind that nearly knocked him over as he ran.
"Reading in his journal, the predominant word in his journal was wind and cold," said Fred, who didn't get to accompany his brother on the run.
"We experienced that a little bit yesterday, so I have such a bigger appreciation of what he went through."
Fox ended his run on Sept. 1, 1980, after the spread of cancer to his lungs forced him to stop just outside Thunder Bay. He was more than half way home.
"Never," Betty and Rolly Fox both chimed when asked Tuesday if they ever thought their son's dream would be celebrated 25 years later.
"Even today, sometimes you sort of have to pinch yourself," Betty Fox said.
Annual Terry Fox runs are held around the world and more than $360 million has been raised in his name for cancer research.
"That's what he'd be most proud of, I think," said Fred Fox. "The fact he passed the torch on, the legacy has been left, and we're continuing."
Added Betty Fox: "Hopefully, we'll find the causes of cancer and, hopefully, it will be with Terry Fox funding."
In the Newfoundland legislature, Premier Danny Williams described Terry Fox as a brave, tenacious and spirited young man whose incredible accomplishment made him a great Canadian.
"I am delighted that Terry's family has returned to the place where their beloved son's journey began all of those years ago," he told the House of Assembly.
His dream was simple. He wanted to raise money for cancer research and he achieved that goal beyond the wildest dreams of those who were on hand that very first day at St. John's harbour."
On the other side of the country, B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell issued a statement from Victoria saying the name Terry Fox was synonymous with "courage, sacrifice and determination."
"While he did not finish his journey . . . he taught us all the power of hope, heart and
humanity," the premier said. "That legacy has carried Terry far further than he ever dreamed . . . As a province and as a nation, we are forever in Terry's debt."
Family and friends huddled in a cold rain on the St. John's waterfront Tuesday for the unveiling of a monument on the spot where Terry Fox began his Marathon of Hope 25 years ago to the day.
Terry Fox, 22, forced to abandon his Marathon of Hope across Canada Sept. 2, 1980, died of cancer June 28, 1981. (CP PHOTO/Chuck Stoody)
"It's a day full of a lot of happiness and some sadness," Fox's mother, Betty, told several dozen people who gathered where Fox dipped his artificial leg into the Atlantic Ocean to start his cross-Canada run on April 12, 1980.
Fox lost his right leg to cancer three years earlier and, moved by the suffering of children undergoing treatment with him, was determined to raise money for research.
With his best friend, Doug Alward, and later his younger brother, Darrell, at his side, Fox ran a marathon a day - 42 kilometres - for more than four months.
For 5,373 kilometres and 143 days, Fox battled wind and snow, then stifling heat and pain, before having to stop outside Thunder Bay, Ont., because of a recurrence of cancer that eventually killed him.
Rolly Fox recalled seeing his son dip his foot in St. John's harbour on television the night the run began.
"It's hard to believe it's been that long," he said during Tuesday's ceremony. "It seems like yesterday.
"Because we live with it every day, it seems like just a few days ago that Terry started."
It was also raining the day Fox started the run, and two days later he would battle a typical Newfoundland spring snowstorm as he made his way across his first province.
The waterfront monument, made of brown slate, is engraved with Fox's name and Mile O, indicating the run's starting location.
Part of the inscription reads: This slate marks the spot where one man's dream began and where a nation's hope lives on . . . His run continues always in our nation's soul.
The day before they helped unveil the monument, Alward and Darrell Fox ran a marathon out of St. John's in the Canadian hero's honour.
"(We) wanted to do the first 42 kilometres to get some sense of what it was like for Terry," Alward said.
"When we went across Canada, I doubt if I ran 10 kilometres the whole five months on the road because I was busy in the van."
The Monday marathon reminded Alward of Fox's incredible athletic feat.
"It's so amazing and I'm so pleased that people are still pursuing Terry's dream for cancer research," he said.
As he flew out from British Columbia on the weekend, Fox's older brother, Fred, read Terry's journal entries from those first few days. Terry wrote about wind that nearly knocked him over as he ran.
"Reading in his journal, the predominant word in his journal was wind and cold," said Fred, who didn't get to accompany his brother on the run.
"We experienced that a little bit yesterday, so I have such a bigger appreciation of what he went through."
Fox ended his run on Sept. 1, 1980, after the spread of cancer to his lungs forced him to stop just outside Thunder Bay. He was more than half way home.
"Never," Betty and Rolly Fox both chimed when asked Tuesday if they ever thought their son's dream would be celebrated 25 years later.
"Even today, sometimes you sort of have to pinch yourself," Betty Fox said.
Annual Terry Fox runs are held around the world and more than $360 million has been raised in his name for cancer research.
"That's what he'd be most proud of, I think," said Fred Fox. "The fact he passed the torch on, the legacy has been left, and we're continuing."
Added Betty Fox: "Hopefully, we'll find the causes of cancer and, hopefully, it will be with Terry Fox funding."
In the Newfoundland legislature, Premier Danny Williams described Terry Fox as a brave, tenacious and spirited young man whose incredible accomplishment made him a great Canadian.
"I am delighted that Terry's family has returned to the place where their beloved son's journey began all of those years ago," he told the House of Assembly.
His dream was simple. He wanted to raise money for cancer research and he achieved that goal beyond the wildest dreams of those who were on hand that very first day at St. John's harbour."
On the other side of the country, B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell issued a statement from Victoria saying the name Terry Fox was synonymous with "courage, sacrifice and determination."
"While he did not finish his journey . . . he taught us all the power of hope, heart and
humanity," the premier said. "That legacy has carried Terry far further than he ever dreamed . . . As a province and as a nation, we are forever in Terry's debt."
