The Man Who Ran For 143 Days With One Leg and Cancer

Terry Fox’s run has now grown into an annual marathon in over 40 countries to raise funds for cancer research.

A 22-year-old ran from the east coast of Canada to the west coast covering 5,373 kilometres in 143 days. But here’s the twist. The young Terry Fox did it with one leg (the other being a prosthetic) and while fighting cancer. That was 1980.

38 years on, that one man’s idea of a cross-country run has grown to become an annual one-day marathon in over 40 countries, raising money and awareness for cancer research.

After months of chemotherapy and then physical training, he embarked on this extensive marathon. (Photo Courtesy: Terry Fox Foundation)

At the age of 18, Terry was diagnosed with osteosarcoma (bone cancer) in his right leg. After months of chemotherapy and then physical training, he embarked on this extensive marathon. His aim? Raise one dollar from each of Canada’s 24 million population that time. The curly-haired youngster skipped and hoped for about 42 km for every one of those days to achieve that.

Today, more than $750 million has been raised for cancer research in Terry’s name.

India’s Marathon Of Hope

The Marathon of Hope, as Terry called it, reached India too. With cities like Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai hosting annual runs, millions have been raised over the years for cancer research in India.

In fact, Mumbai’s efforts have made it one of the top three cities in the world to generously support the cause through the Terry Fox Run. On Sunday, the city will run its 20th Marathon of Hope.

File photo from the Terry Fox Run in Mumbai in 2014.(Photo Courtesy: Terry Fox India)

All funds collected from the event go to one of India’s leading cancer hospitals, Tata Memorial Hospital, for researching cancer among children.

The money is distributed for projects after a strict scientific review process. In the past, the funds have been used for researching radiotherapy in pediatric patients, studying bone tumours and genetic profile of children with brain tumours.

How a Sports-Loving Teen Became the Symbol of Fight Against Cancer

As a kid, Terry played many sports. He was particularly passionate about playing basketball. While he did that, his middle school coach saw potential and encouraged him to train for cross-country running.

As a kid, Terry played many sports. (Photo Courtesy: Terry Fox Foundation)

A couple years later he found himself short of one leg but the same amount of zeal.

His right leg was amputated to stop the spread of bone cancer. But that in no way stopped him. After months of chemotherapy, he again started to play, now with a prosthetic leg. And then after months of training, he decided to go on that cross-country run.

After months of training, Terry decided to go on a cross-country run while fighting cancer.(Photo Courtesy: Terry Fox Foundation)

His efforts to bring awareness to this rare and fatal disease was not in vain. All along the way, supporters donated thousands and thousands for research in cancer in children.

And today, thanks to the advancement in science, a child with osteosarcoma doesn’t have to be amputated like he was.

Although he was half way through his run when his cancer spread from his legs to his lungs forcing him to stop, his dream ran on and by the time he breathed his last in June 1981 a total of $30 million had been collected.

Today, thanks to the advancement in science, a child with osteosarcoma doesn’t have to be amputated like Terry was.(Photo Courtesy: Terry Fox Foundation)

Thus began a journey called Marathon of Hope. Terry left this legacy behind for many others to follow in the form of the Terry Fox Run.

We’ve come a long way since that 22-year-old succumbed to his illness and started a movement. Life spans of cancer patients are not just increasing but they’re now, more than ever, experts are hopeful of a cure. There’s a lot to achieve though. And backed by the courage of cancer survivors, scientists and doctors are taking one step forward each day.