Terry Fox is one of our greatest Canadians.  He is one of our greatest British Columbians.  This year he is featured in “The Party” display for the “Free Spirit” exhibition at the Royal BC Museum.

Terry Fox is one of my heroes.  In 1993, I was awarded the SFU Terry Fox Gold Medal for “courage in adversity” and “dedication to society.”

Terry's brother, Darrell Fox, asked me to become a “Terry Team member“- cancer survivors who serve as living examples that cancer research has helped to make a difference.

Since 1993, I have spoken at Elementary Schools, and Terry Fox community runs throughout Metro Vancouver, as well as in Kelowna (2001, 2002) and Beijing China (1993).  It is a tremendous honour to share with both children and adults, how Terry Fox's “Marathon of Hope” has changed the lives of cancer victims, helping to turn them into cancer survivors.  I am certain that advances in cancer research helped to save my life from a near fatal cancer tumor in 1989.

Today, I was asked by elementary teacher Bill Hood, to speak at Chief Maquinna Elementary in Vancouver.  Bill wrote:

I was especially thrilled to accept this speaking engagement because I grew up about 6 blocks away from Chief Maquinna Elementary School.  It's very close to the old neighborhood I grew up in.

Usually when I go to an elementary school, I will talk about surviving cancer, using my personal experience as an example.  I talk about Terry Fox at Simon Fraser University, and include some of the stories that his former SFU friends, teachers, coaches and team mates have shared with me.

Sometimes I talk about running a Terry Fox Run in Beijing in 1993, or meeting Terry's mom, dad, brothers and sister.

Sometimes I bring my SFU Terry Fox Gold Medal or my plaque to show the students.  The plaque is engraved with Terry's words “Dreams are made if people try.”

And in my life, I have been personally very interested in attending Terry Fox events, such as the unveiling of the Terry Fox $1 coin, visiting the Terry Fox statues in Victoria or Simon Fraser University.  Or even watching Terry Fox television specials or movies on television.

You can donate directly to the Terry Fox Run Donation:
Click here:
https://www.terryfoxrun.org/english/donations/donate/default.asp?s=1

Here are some of my related stories about Terry Fox and my cancer survival:

Terry Fox National School Run Day: I speak at Cleveland Elementary as a Terry's Team cancer survivor

Terry Fox Run in Richmond BC – pictures

by
Todd
on Mon 18 Sep 2006 

 
Todd Wong cancer survivor with Doug Alward and Terry Fleming – photo Deb Martin

 Terry Fox Run Day – I go to the Port Coquitlam “Hometown Run”

by
Todd
on Sun 18 Sep 2005

2nd Annual National School Run Day for Terry Fox – I speak at Tomsett School

by
Todd
on Sat 30 Sep 2006 1

Terry Fox Run at Cleveland Elementary School – I am guest speaker

by
Todd
on Fri 15 Sep 2006

Terry Fox featured on brand new $1 Canadian coin: unveiled at SFU.

Terry Fox book by Douglas Coupland featured for CBC Radio One Book Club