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Port Coquitlam’s Betty Fox had just one word to describe a new loonie coin embossed with an image of her son, Terry.
“Beautiful,” she said of the currency that would be released for circulation on April 4, 2005.
The coin, designed by Royal Canadian Mint engraver Stan Witten, commemorated the 25th anniversary of Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope run across Canada to raise money for cancer research
It was unveiled at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, where Fox attended and played basketball prior to losing his leg to the disease.
“If he were here today, Terry would find it difficult to accept this honour,” Betty Fox said. “He was not driven by fame fortune… His sole purpose was to eradicate the suffering of cancer.”
Witten said Fox’s heroism was etched in his mind as he worked on the coin.
“He kept going, day after day, with determination on his face,” he said. “He could make you believe he could do it.”
The unveiling was attend by members of the Fox family, as well as Man in Motion Rick Hansen, and even several volunteers and supporters who helped out on the Marathon of Hope.
Rolly Fox, Terry’s dad, said his son would never have imagined his likeness adorning a coin.
The Tri-City News has covered civic affairs, local crime, festivals, events, personalities, sports and arts in Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody since 1983. Bound back issues of the paper are available at the Coquitlam Archives, while digital versions of several past years can be found at issuu.com.
