Category Archives: Terry Fox

Terry Fox is a light: a speech by a parent-teacher representative.

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Terry Fox is a light: a speech by a parent-teacher representative.

The
following is a talk given by a parent teacher representative at an
elementary school where I recently spoke.  I was very moved by the
talk she gave, citing the importance of compassion.  By working
together in our collective fight against cancer, we can accomplish more
than we can as individuals.  And like the writer, I also believe
that Terry Fox was a very special light, to the world.  He did not
show us how special he was – instead he showed us how special we all
are.



The person has asked to remain anonymous.

Why am I here today, that’s a very good question! When I was asked back
in June to take on the job as coordinator of the Terry Fox Run, my
first response was, aarrgh!!!  Julia!!! All I wanted to do in
Sept. once my children were back in school was to set up a studio and
paint, but how could I say no to the Terry Fox Run???

To be honest, it is truly an honor to be here today. So I would like to
thank Julia for thinking of me, and Sandra Pascuzzi our new VP, for
making it so easy for me. With all the help of the teachers, the
students who collected pledges, and the numerous parent volunteers,
there wasn’t much for me to do, except this one thing.

A week later, the reason I wound up in this position became very clear
to me as I was sitting in Mosquito creek. It’s amazing what comes to
you when you are daydreaming!  I WAS meant to paint a picture, but
not an acrylic on canvas, a picture I perceived of Terry Fox. So that’s
why I am here today, to share with you this picture, which comes from a
very peaceful place and my inspiration is Terry Fox.

Terry was a young man whose simple objective, through the Marathon of
Hope, was to inform Canadians of the importance of finding a cure for
cancer. I believe that Terry had the greatest cure in him all along.

Let’s call it a light for now! A light in Terry that shone so brightly,
even in such a dark place as cancer, it rekindled a light in everyone
he passed and therefore grew stronger and stronger. One on-looker Terry
passed in Toronto commented, “He makes you believe in the human race
again.” What is this light, which not only restores our faith in the
human race, but can restore the human race itself? If you are with me,
just find a word and hold it for a few seconds. If you are daydreaming,
stay with it, something great will come eventually!!!

I’m going to use the word, COMPASSION!
Compassion comes from the latin words ‘com’ which means together and
‘passia’ which means a suffering, together in suffering. By definition,
it means a deep sympathy or sorrow followed by an urge to help.
According to just a few of the many beautiful examples you wrote about,
it can mean helping someone who is ill by keeping them company, doing
things they enjoy, phoning them so they don’t feel alone, laughing with
them, gathering friends, or giving them hope. I think one of the
greatest and simplest forms of compassion is just to listen. Often we
don’t have the words of wisdom to help someone who is sad or ill, but
if you are present to allow whatever expression is needed at the time
then that is a great gift in itself. Sometimes, there just are no words.

Compassion, I believe, has the greatest healing power of all and Terry
shared his life to help us realize the power we have in all of us to
help others heal. Medicine can cure a disease, but only we can heal a
whole person. We bless each other!

The driver of Terry’s van while running across Canada, also his best
friend Doug Alward, has been quoted “I remember Terry saying it is
almost like this has been planned for a greater purpose”. At that
point, I think he got the picture.

There have been many men and woman who have walked this earth for such
a great purpose, Nelson Mandella, Ghandi, Mother Theresa,  the
architect Buckminster Fuller, Rick Hansen, Simon Jackson, head of the
spirit bear coalition, and the list goes on.
However, only one young man, running so passionately with one leg could
touch the young people so brilliantly. Terry’s purpose was to raise
money for cancer research and stop the suffering, but inadvertently, he
also raised an awareness in all of us of one the greatest cures of all,
COMPASSION.

Today, let’s run TOGETHER with open hearts in support of Terry’s dream
and follow everyday in his footsteps with that brilliant light of
compassion to help those who are SUFFERING.

Life is sacred, let’s have a great RUN at it.

THANK YOU!!!

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

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Terry Fox Coin, Todd with Doug Alward and Terry Fleming (Terry Fox's best friend, and high school basketball coach), at 2005 Hometown Run in Coquitlam, BC.

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

Each year I speak at one or more elementary schools as a Terry's Team member.  I explain that we are cancer survivors who serve as living examples that cancer research has made a difference.  And that is what Terry Fox wanted to do – make a difference.

Cleveland Elementary is in North Vancouver, located just off Capilano Road, just North of the Capilano Suspension Bridge – but on the East side of Capilano Road.  It's not too far away from my home in North Vancouver, so it was easy to get to.  On September 29th, the National School Run Day, I will speak at Tomsett Elementary in Richmond, BC.

The entire school turned out for the Terry Fox assembly.  As children from Kindergarten to Grade 6 filed into the gymnasium, a slide show of images of Terry Fox, and a map of where he ran in Canada played on the video screen.

We sang O Canada in first french, then English.  Capilano is a bi-lingual school.  This was fun, as I think it was the first time I had sung O Canada in French.

Vice-Principal Sandra Pascuzzi introduced me after welcoming all the students, and saying a brief introduction about Terry Fox.  I explained to the students what it meant to be a Terry's Team member and a cancer survivor, then introduced a tape from last year's Terry Fox National Run Day that aired on CBC, produced by my friend Moyra Rodger.  It showed a brief history of Terry, then showed school children in Ottawa, Brampton Ontario, and Victoria BC.  I asked how many participated in last year's National Run, and explained that while they were participating, that particular Terry Fox video was airing live across the country, and that there were over 5000 schools across Canada and over one million students participating.

I explained when I was 29 years old, I was diagnosed with cancer.  It was a scary moment.  But I remembered that Terry Fox had initially survied his cancer diagnosis, and the doctors told me that I could too.  I had chemotherapy treatment for 5 months.

In 1993, Simon Fraser University gave me the Terry Fox Gold medal for courage in adversity and dedication to society.  I held up the plaque with the picture of Terry Fox, and read the words, “Canadians are inspired by Terry's challenge:… 'dreams are made if people try.'”  I emphasized to the students that is important to always try – otherwise dreams may never happen.  That's what I had to do to beat my cancer.  I had to try, and not give up.

I explained to the students that every year, I speak and run at a different Terry Fox run site.  I have been a Terry's Team member for Vancouver Stanley Park, Burnaby, SFU, North Delta, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Kelowna BC, and even in Beijing China.  I asked the students how many countries now participated in Terry Fox Runs around the world.  One boy answered “A lot.” 
“That's right,” I replied, “A lot – too many for me to remember.  There are now run sites in Africa, Europe, Australia, Asia, North and South America.  I told the students that I would be speaking this year at the Richmond run site, but that I have spoken at both the North and West Vancouver run sites before.  I then asked who had attended or was going to them, then asked them to identify the sites. After numerous “I don't know” answers, I informed them that the West Vancouver run was at Ambleside Beach, and the North Vancouver Run was at Inter-River Park.

I closed up my talk by telling the children that with any event, you must do your preparation.  Before running across the Canada, Terry ran the equivalent in practice.  That way he knew he could do it.  I related this to doing your homework.  If you want to do well in school, you must be prepared.

Following my talk, the beginning excerpt of the Terry Fox video “I Have a Dream” was played.  Judy, a parent teacher representative, then gave a lovely talk about Terry being a bright light in the world.  She said that Terry already had the answer to finding a cure for many of our problems, and that the answer was inside of us.  She asked the children what they thought the answer was.  “Stenghth”, “friendship” and “courage,” were some of the replies.  Judy said her answer was “Compassion – which means caring for others.”  For her that was what Terry Fox embodied and how he gave hope to Canadians and to people around the world.

The event wrapped up with an exercise warm-up, and then everybody went down to the lower field and did a run, along the neighborhood streets.  It was fun running with the students.  I ended up talking with a mother who came to the school to run with her daughter.  We had a great chat about Terry Fox and what he means to people.  Some students asked me if I really had cancer.  Others simply smiled and waved to me.

After I finished the run, I walked back towards the school.  A parent named Darrell commented that the kids had more enthusiasm than most of the people who attend the main run sites.  I shared with him that each run site really has its own personality.  He asked me if I was a parent.  When I explained that I had been the guest speaker, and a cancer survivor, he shared that in 1991, he had been diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma.  It was scary for him, because he had had a cousin that had died from Hodgkin's in 1980.  But now many people survive because cancer treatments have improved.

We were both cancer survivors.  And that is the legacy of Terry Fox.  Attending a Terry Fox Run is a real honest to goodness, feel good event.  People are happy.  People are inspired.  It is always a joy to attend and to thank people for donating them time and their money.  I know that if it wasn't for Terry Fox, and the advances in cancer research – that I might not be alive today.

If you would like to donate to the Terry Fox Run.  You can donate to my on-line pledge sheet.  Terry's team members offer to run for people who cannot run themselves.  Just click on:
 http://www.terryfoxrun.org/ENRunner/default.asp?s=1&RunnerID=42768


Terry Fox Run – Todd will be guest speaker at Richmond BC run site

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Terry Fox Run

Terry Fox is one of Canada's greatest heroes.

Terry Fox has a special place in my heart.

Every year since 1993, I am a Terry's Team member, cancer survivors who
serve as
living examples that cancer research has helped to make a
difference.  This year, I am a guest speaker at the Richmond BC
run site.

Being a Terry's Team member is very special.  I am glad to be a
cancer survivor, but I would prefer it if there were no more new
members.\


Todd with Terry's Best Friend – Doug Alward, and Terry's high school basketball coach – Terry Fleming.  photo Deb Martin

In 1989 – I survived a near fatal cancer tumor behind my
breastbone.  Without treatment, the doctors said, I might have
lasted two weeks.  Instead, I was on chemotherapy for 5 months
from June 21st to November.

I speak at different run sites, and elementary schools each year 
throughout Greater Vancouver.  I have spoken at run sites in
Burnaby, Vancouver, West Vancouver, North Vancouver, North Delta,
Kelowna BC, and even in Beijing China in 1993.

Wednesday evening I attended the planning committee meeting for the
Richmond run site, organized by my friends John and Joan Young, who are
avid runners.  They introduced me to the planning team.  It's
a good group.  Last year the Richmond run site attracted 500
participants.  The run starts at Garry Point Park on the
Southwestern tip of Richmond, right beside the community of
Steveston.  We will run North along the dike.  A 10 km run
will take you all the way to Westminster Hwy and back.

Please join me.

Sunday Sept 17 10am
Garry Point Park, Richmond
(Southwest of Steveston).

You can make an online donations to the Terry Fox Run Foundation can be
made with me as your own special “Terry's Team member” here:
https://www.terryfoxrun.org/