The annual Terry Fox runs (fundraisers for cancer research) always take place at this time of year, and Salt Spring's Run will be this Sunday, the 21st (first day of Fall, too). Walk, run, bike...whatever! Keep the spirit of Terry Fox's run across Canada alive, and bring hope to those suffering from cancer.
I had a gift from the universe, as I actually saw Terry Fox on that run, shortly before he had to call it off. He began his run on the Atlantic Ocean, and was running across Canada, to the Pacific Ocean, to raise money and awareness for Cancer research.
Terry had a leg lost to cancer, and a prosthetic leg.
I was driving across Canada, West to East, with my sister and her son, and on a very deserted stretch of the Trans Canada Highway, in northern Ontario, with endless forest on either side of this straight ribbon of road, we could see Terry running West. His support van was about 15 or so minutes behind him, perhaps at his request, and so there he was, running alone on the highway, no other cars or trucks in sight, just at that time.
We stopped and got out and clapped our encouragement, and when we caught up to the support van, we emptied our purses and wallets of any cash, and added it to his "collection".
He was clearly in the rhythm of his run, with its powerful but step/jog pace, and his expression was fiercely intent. He was going to do that run.
Later, miles down the highway on our journey from Vancouver to Toronto, we were watching t.v. in the hotel room and heard that the run had been cancelled, and that Terry had been flown back to Vancouver. His cancer had caught up with him, and he did not long survive this moment.
How blessed we were to see that spirit that would not give in, would do the gesture for others, would fight on and be a "winner", no matter what, no matter that he must have been in pain, no matter....
It was a gift for all of us who saw him that day, and any other day.
We are in the moment, and his mission of positive action is one for all of us to carry forward.
Take some time on the 21st, and honour his memory by joining in this year's run, or in sponsoring someone who can be there.
Truly, a great Canadian.
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