Terry Fox Run 2011

19 September 2011Rachael K

Last Sunday Brentwood students all took their marks on Gillespie Field, eagerly anticipating the whistle that would jumpstart the main event. Grade 9s and 12s alike waited alongside each other to join the thousands of other Canadian students across the country already running, already commemorating the memory of the inspiring man who traversed Canada in order to raise funds for cancer.
At the age of 18 Terry Fox discovered a tumor in his left leg. Though his leg was later amputated, Fox never gave up on his dream to run as an athlete, and decided to start a marathon that would make him famous: a run across all of Canada on his new prosthetic leg. A winner of the Companion of the Order of Canada, Terry Fox revolutionized the way people across Canada engage in the fight against cancer. Fox’s dream was to have every person living in Canada donate one dollar towards his cause. There were 34 million Canadians in Canada at that time, and before he passed away, Fox had indeed accomplished his goal, a goal that his contemporaries had originally scoffed at, claiming his ideas to be far too idealistic. Now, from its humble beginnings, Fox’s fund has expanded, having raised over half a billion dollars. Terry Fox began his trek by dipping his prosthetic leg into the Atlantic Ocean, but Brentwood students started their version of the run alongside the Pacific on a beautiful sunny day. Completing a route near campus alongside parents, pets, and other members of the Mill Bay community, every Brentwood students participated in the event in one way or another. Whether they were running, cycling, walking, cheering, collecting donations, distributing tattoos, or manning water stations to keep fellow participants hydrated, the entire school was right in the middle of the action at all times. 18 students helped manage from the sidelines, while 95% of the school covered the 6 kilometer distance. The Brentwood route was 3 kilometers down Mill Bay Road, before looping back around at a scenic look-out right along the ocean. Understanding that Terry Fox covered almost seven times that distance every day on a prosthetic leg is a completely mind blowing idea to try to fathom; it was definitely hard for most students to grasp while they were running, that is for sure. The Terry Fox Run has been a longstanding tradition in the Brentwood Community for 31 years now. Fox grew up in British Columbia, and remains an inspirational role model to not only every member of the province, but also to all other Canadians and individuals around the world. Students for years ahead will continue to run in order to help preserve the memory of the amazing Canadian who decided to follow his dreams, and conquer the setbacks he was unfortunately presented with at such an early age. This kind of performance is one that all Brentwood students should try to emulate throughout their lives, to help motivate others as Fox inspired the world. Terry Fox’s trek across Canada inspired millions to follow his story, and because of his incredible determination and dedication, he will always remain to be one of Canada’s truest heroes.

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