To see the power of Terry Fox's legacy, you have to look beyond Canada's borders.
The story of the Port Coquitlam hero and his historic Marathon of Hope in 1980 is well known among generations of Canadians but his physical and fundraising achievements - as well as his message of hope to find a cure to cancer - have spread across the world.
All you have to do is read the most recent newsletter produced by the Terry Fox Foundation's international division, which is headed by Fox's sister, Judith. There are dozens of Terry Fox Runs organized by Canadian embassies and consulates, Canadian Force bases, anti-cancer councils and societies as well as other groups and individuals, many of them expatriates.
Jane Figueiredo, an assistant professor at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California and the president of Canadians Abroad, is one of many Canadians working to build awareness about Fox while raising cash for cancer research. She said Canadians Abroad, the largest ex-pat group in the state, with 3,500 members, is launching its first Terry Fox Run, to be held this Saturday, Sept. 17 at Elysian Park in Los Angeles.
Cancer survivor Akash Dube said organizing the Terry Fox Run in Chennai, India, is his way of giving back to the community that helped him through the difficult medical treatments; this year's third annual event saw around 12,000 runners (last year, more than $32,000 was brought in for the Tata Memorial Hospital).
And in Egypt, where the Canadian embassy's Terry Fox Run is held in front of the pyramids, Collette Ellis-Toddington, spokesperson for the BC Canadian International School in Cairo, said about 250 staff, students and parents took part in the first run at the school last December and raised about 4,500 LE ($750 CAD); this year's goal is 10,000 LE for a children's cancer hospital there.
"Our school is on the outskirts of Cairo in a community called Sherouk, and we set the run to occur on the streets of the community around our school," Ellis-Toddington wrote in an email to The Tri-City News. "Our students really enjoyed learning about Terry Fox and his personal goals. We have been able to raise the awareness of cancer and the affect it has on many families."
She added, "Terry Fox's story is also a great tool to teach tolerance and understanding of those who are less fortunate or have disabilities. His story shows our young people that handicaps do not have to limit your goals or achievements."
Meanwhile, the 2011 Brunssum Terry Fox Run, organized by the Canadian Delegation of the NATO Joint Force Command Headquarters in Brunssum, Netherlands, took place Sept. 6. It was the sixth annual Brunssum Terry Fox Run and participation included Canadians and their family members who are working or living in the area for NATO. The 86 participants, including members from various nations, got to choose between 5 km and 10 km runs, or 10 km and 20 km cycle tours through Brunssummerheide Park, with proceeds to support cancer research with the Dutch Cancer Society.
Ashleigh Erwin, an international fundraising administrator with the Fox Foundation, said 30 runs are expected to happen between July and December this year, four of which are first-time runs.
Last year, because of political and economic challenges, the foundation lost five countries, resulting in a total loss of 13 international Fox runs. Still, the number of international runs has jumped by 20% since 2009, according to the foundation's annual report.
One run, in Bangalore, India, has been resurrected and will take place Sept. 18 at the Sree Kanteerva Stadium. The run organizer is Nitin Tolani, 21, who was diagnosed with Ewings sarcoma (kidney cancer) in 2009. He first learned about Terry Fox during his studies in Dubai, where he lives, but is organizing the Run in Bangalore because it is his hometown and he received his treatments there. A committed Terry's Team Member, Tolani speaks at school assemblies promoting Terry's heroic example and on the importance of giving to end the suffering of cancer.
A run is also planned in Kabul, Afghanistan this Friday organized by the Canadian troops and is expected to attract 1,000 participants from nine camps.
