CANADA'S GREATEST HERO voted by Canadians in 1999
September 18, 2016 is the Terry Fox Marathon of Hope run/walk day. Doesn't matter where you live get out and give of yourself to others.
Terry Fox facts
July 28, 1958 - Terrance Stanley Fox is born in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
March 9, 1977 - Terry discovers he has a malignant tumour in his right leg; the leg is amputated 15 centimetres (six inches) above the knee. The night before his amputation he reads about an amputee runner and dreams of running.
February 1979 - Terry begins training for his Marathon of Hope, a cross-Canada run to raise money for cancer research and awareness. During his training he runs over 5,000 kilometres (3,107 miles).
October 15, 1979 - Terry writes to the Canadian Cancer Society to support his run: "I'm not a dreamer, and I'm not saying this will initiate any kind of definitive answer or cure to cancer, but I believe in miracles. I have to."
April 12, 1980 - St John's, Newfoundland: Terry dips his artificial leg into the Atlantic Ocean and begins his odyssey. He runs an average of 42 kilometres a day (26 miles) through six provinces.
September 1, 1980 - After 143 days and 5,373 kilometres (3,339 miles) Terry stopped running outside of Thunder Bay, Ontario; his primary cancer had spread to his lungs. Before returning to BC for treatment Terry said, "I'm gonna do my very best. I'll fight. I promise I won't give up."
September 18, 1980 - Terry Fox becomes the youngest Companion of the Order of Canada.
November 22, 1980 - The American Cancer Society presents Terry with their highest award; The Sword of Hope.
December 18, 1980 - Canadian sports editors vote Terry Fox the Lou Marsh Award for outstanding athletic accomplishment.
December 23, 1980 - Editors of Canadian Press member newspapers and the radio and television stations name Terry Fox Canadian of the Year. Terry received this honour again in 1981 after his death in June.
June 28, 1981 - After treatment with chemotherapy and interferon, Terry Fox dies at Royal Columbian Hospital, New Westminster, British Columbia - one month short of his twenty-third birthday.
August 29, 1981 - Terry Fox is posthumously inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame.
April 13, 1982 - Canada Post issues a Terry Fox Stamp; prior to this, no other stamp had been issued until 10 years after the death of the honouree.
December 1990 - The Sports Network (TSN) names Terry Fox Athlete of the Decade; the field included Wayne Gretzky and Michael Jordan.
February 11, 1994 - The Terry Fox Hall of Fame is created to provide permanent recognition to Canadians who have made extraordinary personal contributions to assist or enhance the lives of people with physical disabilities.
June 30, 1999 - Terry Fox is voted Canada's Greatest Hero in a national survey.
January 17, 2000 - Terry is again immortalized on a Canadian postage stamp. This time he is part of the prestigious Millennium Collection of influential and distinguished Canadians. January 27, 2003 - Time Magazine includes Terry in a feature story called "Canada's Best".
April 12 to September 2005 - The 25th Anniversary of Terry's Marathon of Hope brought about several remarkable events and fundraisers. The Canadian Mint launched the Terry Fox $1 coin, Canadian author Douglas Coupland released the book "Terry', Maxine Trottier published the children's book "A Story of Hope" (joining books by Leslie Scrivener and Eric Walters) and CTV produced the motion picture "Terry". Over 14,000 Canadians walked the Confederation Bridge between PEI and New Brunswick as part of a unique Terry Fox Run.
May, 2014 - The Foundation announces that over $650 million has been raised to support cancer research in Terry's name.
Other Facts
There are 14 schools and 15 roads in Canada named after Terry.
Every year, millions of people in close to 25 countries participate in The National School Run Day, The Terry Fox Run, and Terry Fox fundraising events.