Terry Fox

I just got my new Runner’s World yesterday, and didn’t have time to sit down and look through it until today. Generally, it’s 100 or so pages of glossy fluff; I only subscribe because it’s cheap and usually gives my running a pick-me-up. But sometimes they have a really good article, the kind that could get into one of the annual Best Sports Writing anthologies.

This issue has one of them, and I urge you to get the magazine and read it. It’s a look back at Terry Fox and his Marathon of Hope. Unlike most Americans I know who he was (or is, as many refer to him), but I had no idea he was such a hero in Canada. I must say, I’m a bit embarrassed at my ignorance since I have many Canadian ancestors, live close to the border, and watch a decent amount of CBC. I'm disturbed to realize Rick Mercer would have as easy a time with me as any other American.

The story of Fox is a great one, but what struck me as amazing is the very same thing I was ashamed of not knowing: he is among Canada's greatest heroes, more revered than Alexander Graham Bell, Pierre Trudeau or even Wayne Gretzky. This was an everyman who, at first glance, struggled against tremendous difficulty and ultimately failed. Yet his struggle gave the entire nation the gift of health and life. When CBC ranked The Greatest Canadians two years ago, the only one ahead of Fox was a Socialist (Tommy Douglas).

I'd like to organize a Terry Fox Run in the Toledo area, but we've got a Race for the Cure on the same exact day. I think I'll go up to Windsor next fall and run in respect for the man, and more importantly the whole of Canada.