Today is the annual Terry Fox Run here in Canada, which will take place in over 9,000 Canadian communities to commemorate Terry Fox's historic 1980 "Marathon of Hope", his attempt to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research,
Most American (I believe) have never heard of Terry Fox. I certainly hadn't when I immigrated to Canada from the United States in October 2005 at the age of 48. That year, for the 25th anniversary of the "Marathon of Hope", Canada had issued the Terry Fox loonie (Canada's one-dollar coin). I received a Terry Fox loonie in change one morning at a Tim Horton's in Moncton, and looked at the iconic image of Terry, running on his prosthetic leg and said to my friend, "I don't get it ... is this some kind of bionic man?" Several bystanders turned their heads and my friend, embarrassed, said "Charles ... that's not very funny.."
I didn't intend it as a joke. I really didn't understand. I certainly didn't recognize the image of a man that is so familiar to every Canadian.
So my friend (Jeff, by name) told me the story of Terry Fox and his historic 1980 "Marathon of Hope" which started in the neighbouring Atlantic province of Newfoundland and ended 143 days and 5,373 kilometres (3,339 miles) later, when Terry's cancer returned. Within a year, it had taken his life. He died at the age of 22.
As Jeff told me the story, some of the bystanders, who were at first shocked and offended at my "joke", which they considered to be in unimaginably poor taste, joined in, each adding some detail or personal remembrance to the story. When they learned that I was an American, they were glad to share Terry's story with me. They all knew it ... and all could contribute a detail, or a feeling, to it.
It was a wonderful experience, especially for a newcomer to Canada, and I will never forget that moment.
I learned that there is probably no adult in Canada who doesn't know who Terry Fox is, what he looked like, and why he had an artificial leg.
When I learned Terry Fox's story, he became a personal hero to me, and always will be. And I understood a new kind of heroism, of life lived with courage, that most Americans don't understand. Terry Fox may be Canada's greatest hero; certainly the most recognizable, but that is only partly because of what he did. It's because of who Canadians are. He's a hero here in Canada because of what is special about Canadians. And that's an invalua
... keep reading on reddit ➡My eldest son is in kindergarten now and had his first Terry Fox run in October. I was telling my coworkers (who are all from BC as well as myself) about it and we started wondering if he’s as widely known across Canada as he is in BC and if you also had Terry Fox runs? Thanks
Edit: wow, way more replies than I had thought! Thanks everyone for replying! I learned it’s not only well known across Canada but also all over the world!
im sorry terry but im not walking a kilometre in converse
You may have heard about how Toronto is changing the name of their Dundas St because Henry Dundas played a role in delaying the abolition of the slave trade in the UK. He was a Scottish politician who never stepped foot in Canada anyway. London should probably change the name of our Dundas St too.
I propose we change the name of London’s Dundas St to Terry Fox St (or Fox St) since that's the street Terry Fox took into London during his Marathon of Hope. Terry Fox is a Canadian hero and a legend.
Who wouldn't get behind that?! Would you rather chose a racist politician or a Canadian legend to name your street after?
After Wilson's complete meltdown yesterday the MVP conversation came up as Wilson is now out.
Brady (lol), Mahomes, Big Ben, Brees.. all mentioned. Then Tony Gonzales mentioned Rodgers and they all were relatively quiet with Bradshaw saying "well did you see that Niners game, he threw TD all over the field but they were all easy. I'm looking for throws like Mahomes that are challenged and hard.." Wow..
When you discount the job Rodgers is doing this year you look stupid.
Today always makes me so mad. It is a holiday for the government and office workers but if you work retail or in a restaurant it is just another day. Holidays should be holidays for everyone
I never knew this, and while I am sure others in the forum will have seen it I hope it’s interesting to others as well!
