Terry Fox

Terry Fox is one of my heroes and it was heartwarming to read about how his story has made an impact not only in Canada but around the world in this month's edition of the Canadian Expat Network newsletter. 

For those not familiar with Terry Fox, he was a young man from Vancouver who in 1980 embarked on a "Marathon of Hope" where he was to run across Canada to raise money for cancer. At the time, he had just his left leg, after his right one had been amputated three years previous as the result of Cancer.  After 143 days of running on average 23 miles per day, every day, he was unable to finish his run as the cancer spread to his lungs. 

I happened to pick up a copy of the book "Terry" by one of my favorite authors, Douglas Coupland, when I was home (just a little Canadiana to make me feel at home down in Rio...), which the article also mentions.  I read an excerpt from the book a couple of years ago in Reader's Digest and was completely floored.  Although I've known the name Terry Fox my whole life, leave it to Coupland to deliver the information to me in a way that made it thought provoking and brand new again. Basically, pointing out that not only did Terry Fox accomplish what he did, without a leg, with cancer, that Coupland was unable to find record of any record of any other human being (with legs, without cancer) physically accomplishing the same.

This post is not obviously related to Brazil in any way other than the fact that after reading about how Terry Fox runs & events are now occurring in September around the world and not just in Canada, it makes me think about getting something cracking for next September in Rio perhaps... 

Comments

[Typ0]

I remember learning about Terry Fox as a kid and going on the runs when i was in school. He is a true hero. The fact that he's Canadian only makes him cooler. LOL ;)

I'll have to look up this Coupland book and put in on my Amazon wishlist.

[DRL]

Yeah he really is! Definitely look up the book and Coupland's other books are worth checking out too. They are incredibly obscure and unlike anything else I've ever read but I love them.