‘Terry was silly funny – he had such playfulness about him. For example, if we were sitting on the couch watching TV, he would reach over and grab my nose and just hold on, not let go. You couldn’t help but
start laughing.
‘My favourite time with Terry was when he was playing wheelchair basketball. I often drove into Vancouver with him and was ball girl during his practices. I loved that time we spent together, I would have been about 12 or 13 at the time. Terry was seven years older than me, so the fact that my older brother would let me come and hang out was awesome.
‘Another very memorable time was being in Toronto when Terry ran through. It was a surprise. We were up early, around 4am, to go and meet him on the road somewhere outside of Toronto. What an experience! The Toronto Star flew us out and asked us not to let Terry know, even when we were on the side of the road amongst those who also rose early to see him. I still remember the feeling of excitement – the anticipation of seeing him. It had been approximately three months since he left on his most memorable journey. It was so hard to just stand there as he ran towards us and, as he got closer, to hold back and not call him or reach out to him was almost unbearable. He was so full of concentration and determination that he ran right by us, until mum called him – ‘Terrance Stanley Fox!’ He went a couple more steps then stopped and turned around. There were tears and laughter from all of us. That day, July 10, is one of my most treasured memories.
‘The miracle of Terry was his selflessness. He thought of us as the power of one. He exemplified the strength of the human spirit. His story continues to inspire people of all ages creeds, colours and cultures, to motivate them to give of themselves in order to serve the plight of others. Terry is a shining example to all, young and old alike – an example of determination, hard work, tenacity, perseverance, bravery, humility, courage and the importance of giving to others. Now, when I think of him, I am full of so much pride for having the opportunity to have shared the first 16 years of my life with someone who has been embraced by millions of people around the world. His vision is a remarkably inspiring one and will last the test of time and cultures, and I am very proud to call him brother.’
Who was Terry Fox?
‘If you were better than him at the start,’ his father once said of his son’s sportsmanship, ‘he’d keep playing until he was better than you.’ That determination was harshly tested in 1977, when Fox – a Canadian teenage sports enthusiast – lost a leg to cancer. His ‘Marathon of Hope’ began in 1980; Fox aimed to run the width of his country, intending to raise a dollar for every one of Canada’s 24 million residents. Just 143 days into his journey (5,373 kilometres), he was forced to stop when cancer was found to have metastasised to his lungs. He died nine months later.
What can you do?
The Terry Fox Run is an international, non-competitive event that has taken place every year since the runner’s death. Gradually growing in international scale, it now takes place in over 50 locations annually. Abu Dhabi has raised approximately Dhs4 million over 14 years. Participants generate proceeds by having friends sponsor their run, by donating money at the event itself, by buying t-shirts (Dhs30), food and drink on the day, and by dropping money off at the Terry Fox stands – keep an eye open for them in Abu Dhabi’s malls in the weeks leading up to the event. Every dirham you raise funds cancer research at the UAE University Faculty of Medicine.
The Terry Fox Run on Feb 19 starts from 30th St (Khaleej al arabi) and ends at the car park near the Corniche Hospital. Register at 8am, run at 10am. Don’t miss local Canadian rock band The Empty Quarter, as well as a performance by the Abu Dhabi Falcons. For more information, head to terryfoxfun.org.
