This Day in History: The Marathon of Hope Begins
On April 12, 1980, a young Canadian named Terry Fox embarked on a journey that would have an indelible impact on our nation. With one leg and his Adidas runners, he set out from St. John’s Newfoundland to run across Canada and raise awareness for cancer research. His journey has become known as the Marathon of Hope and its legacy lives on over four decades later. Let us take some time to reflect upon this remarkable feat and the ripple effects it has had on Canadians from coast to coast.
The Marathon of Hope was no small undertaking; with each step, Terry was beating not just his own odds, but those stacked against him by skeptics who thought such an endeavor was impossible. He ran over 5,000 kilometers in 143 days, raising $24 million dollars along the way for cancer research - an impressive feat by any standard! It was truly inspiring to watch him fight through pain and adversity while staying focused on his mission and exhibiting true courage in the face of extreme difficulty.
Although unfortunately his journey ended prematurely due to his own battle with cancer, Terry’s story is far from over; in fact it continues to influence Canadians today. In 1981, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau established the annual Terry Fox Run which now involves over 8 million participants in more than 60 countries around the world every year! The event has raised more than $800 million for cancer research since its inception; it is a testament not only to Terry Fox’s courage but also serves as a unifying force for Canadians who still feel inspired by his story almost 40 years later.
The money raised during the run has funded countless medical breakthroughs that have helped save millions of lives worldwide – including many here at home! Not only did these researchers benefit from funds generated through donations made to the cause but they also gained inspiration from Terry’s relentless determination and courage which encouraged them to push beyond what is conventionally possible when researching treatments for otherwise incurable diseases like cancer.
It is hard to express how much impact Terry Fox had on our nation simply through running across Canada with one leg and a can-do attitude. He captured hearts everywhere he went while spreading awareness about cancer research and raising millions of dollars towards finding a cure - something we now know will never happen without people like him leading the charge! That said, even though he is no longer with us today we can still carry forward his legacy through participating in events like The Terry Fox Run or simply by taking time out of our day-to-day lives to remember what made him so special - courage, perseverance and love for all humanity. He may be gone but we will never forget him; this is why he will always remain one of our nation’s greatest heroes.