They say actions speak louder than words, and that a picture is worth a thousand words, but now more than ever documentary film is forever changing the way people interpret, draw inspiration from and experience sports. Having been an avid viewer of the ESPN Films 30 for 30 series, which airs every Tuesday at 8PM ET/ 5PM PT on ESPN, I could not help but be taken aback by the story of Terry Fox and his journey across the Canadian landscape. But while Terry's mission was simply to draw awareness to and raise funds for cancer research and individuals with disabilities, his quest for the west quickly became far more than a man with a plan...and a friend in a van.
Terrance Stanley "Terry" Fox forever changed the sports landscape when he embarked on the run of his life. With the goal of running the entire length of continental Canada, a vast array of wilderness, extreme terrain and unpredictable weather, Terry set out head on into the westward wind determined to carry the weight of cancer awareness on his shoulders. But what would drive someone to do such a thing? How is it that this young and athletic now single leg amputee could run across country on what at the time was a prosthetic that was not designed for such stress? Having been inspired by Dick Traum, the first single leg amputee to complete the New York City Marathon after reading an article the night before his surgery, Fox found all the emotional strength and desire within the walls of the very hospital with which he laid and experiences he had endured.
Fox was a distance runner and basketball player for his Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, high school and Simon Fraser University. His right leg was amputated in 1977 after he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, though he continued to run using his artificial leg beginning three weeks post surgery. Having devised a 14 month training program, having rejected the idea of waiting two years to complete the trek, Fox endured overwhelming shin splints, cysts and bruising to his stump (portion of leg remaining post operation) with his training incorporating extended distance running of between five and fifteen miles a day. Having decided that he would run a full marathon everyday, this two session split style of running (12 miles in the morning, 14 miles at night) would surely test the human spirit.
Dubbed the Marathon of Hope, the young and athletic Fox from Winnipeg, Manitoba set off with his friend and trailer, Doug Alward, in the ultimate quest to enrich the lives of the men, women and most importantly children that he had spent time with during his cancer treatment and rehabilitation in Canada. With the goal of raising $24 million, one dollar for each of Canada's 24 million people, Fox and Alwards started in St. Johns Newfoundland in April of 1980.
But the goal of this article is not give a biographical representation of his story, but to bring about an awareness and ultimately shed light on what I feel many of us have lost, the human spirit. I find that so many of us tend to get caught up in the future, regretting today in search of next week, next month or next year. The most inspirational thing about Terry's story is that it highlights the now. His sense of urgency and willingness to continue to push, regardless of the countless daily public appearances, arguments with his friends and incredible lack of support at the beginning of his race is a testament to the power of positive and constructive thought. Fox was noted to have kept a journal and would reflect on his journey on a daily basis, a notebook that served as a way for him to transpose his ideas, emotions and experiences into words.
That journal right there is the sole reason why I do this blog. Having an outlet with which to share your story and your experiences will ultimately live on and serve as a catalysts to solidify your legacy, while also introducing the notion of shared thinking. Having worked with individuals with disabilities during my experiences in undergrad, I can tell you that their willingness to learn, educate others and enjoy life are far more meaningful than so many of the mundane and often scripted conversations I find myself having on a daily basis. Individuals like Terry Fox have an unbelievable desire to spread the message about these issues as a way to add value to the voice of this population and focus others attention on the issues within our society that matter.
Yet although the spread of his cancer into his lungs eventually forced him to end his quest after 143 days and 3,339 mi, Fox's humbleness and efforts to educate others of his, and similar others situation, is what separates his journey from those who had come before. With pain in his chest, blurred vision, cysts, endless discomfort, terrain and his prosthesis begging for him to stop and encouraging him to quit, he raced on. One day at a time, one run at a time, one interview at a time and one step at a time. It would be easy to take one step forward and two steps back or say that your going to run 26 miles, and only complete 25. Yet the desire to succeed and finish the race were far to strong, and the expectations far to high, to give up hope on the ultimate cure.
Having watched
Into the Wind and taken a day to reflect, it has come to my attention that I myself need to make some personal life changes. Having shared similar interested with Fox and his desire to study kinesology and become a physical education teacher, his quest to draw inspiration from and bring about opportunities for people with disabilities, and his unparalleled athletic dream to run long distance all translated into a responsibility on my end to use this platform as a way to continue to bring life to his movement. Gone are the days of making excuses, or saying something is to hard or can't be done. Gone are the days of listening to the opinions of others and setting my sights on this goals that I want to achieve. Gone are the days of personal satisfaction and individual success for these are the days of collective thought, shared thinking and creativity. For the greatest satisfaction is knowing you laid it all on the line in order to help someone else live out their life and achieve what they deem to be their ultimate success.
My three goals as it related to Terry's Story:
1. Write two blog posts a week on individuals with disabilities, their achievements, movements, accolades and research into new and existing technologies.
2. Run the Portland Marathon in 2011 / Put together a group of friends and run Hood to Coast in 2011.
3. Praise God everyday for the opportunities he has provided by spending time in the word.
*For a preview of ESPN Films 30 for 30:
Into the Wind you can click on the title of this article. Additional information in regards to Terry's efforts and accolades are listed below.
Background: The annual Terry Fox Run, first held in 1981, has grown to involve millions of participants in over 60 countries and is now the world's largest one-day fundraiser for cancer research. Terry's efforts have raise approximately $500 million for cancer research and continues to shed light on the lives and circumstances of those living with cancer or disability. Fox was the youngest person ever named a Companion of the Order of Canada and won the 1980 Lou Marsh Award as the nation's top sportsman. Fox was also named Canada's Newsmaker of the Year in both 1980 and 1981 and is considered a national hero as he has had many buildings, roads and parks named in his honour across the country.
They say actions speak louder than words, and that a picture is worth a thousand words, but now more than ever documentary film is forever changing the way people interpret, draw inspiration from and experience sports. Having been an avid viewer of the ESPN Films 30 for 30 series, which airs every Tuesday at 8PM ET/ 5PM PT on ESPN, I could not help but be taken aback by the story of Terry Fox and his journey across the Canadian landscape. But while Terry's mission was simply to draw awareness to and raise funds for cancer research and individuals with disabilities, his quest for the west quickly became far more than a man with a plan...and a friend in a van.
Terrance Stanley "Terry" Fox forever changed the sports landscape when he embarked on the run of his life. With the goal of running the entire length of continental Canada, a vast array of wilderness, extreme terrain and unpredictable weather, Terry set out head on into the westward wind determined to carry the weight of cancer awareness on his shoulders. But what would drive someone to do such a thing? How is it that this young and athletic now single leg amputee could run across country on what at the time was a prosthetic that was not designed for such stress? Having been inspired by Dick Traum, the first single leg amputee to complete the New York City Marathon after reading an article the night before his surgery, Fox found all the emotional strength and desire within the walls of the very hospital with which he laid and experiences he had endured.
Fox was a distance runner and basketball player for his Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, high school and Simon Fraser University. His right leg was amputated in 1977 after he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, though he continued to run using his artificial leg beginning three weeks post surgery. Having devised a 14 month training program, having rejected the idea of waiting two years to complete the trek, Fox endured overwhelming shin splints, cysts and bruising to his stump (portion of leg remaining post operation) with his training incorporating extended distance running of between five and fifteen miles a day. Having decided that he would run a full marathon everyday, this two session split style of running (12 miles in the morning, 14 miles at night) would surely test the human spirit.
Dubbed the Marathon of Hope, the young and athletic Fox from Winnipeg, Manitoba set off with his friend and trailer, Doug Alward, in the ultimate quest to enrich the lives of the men, women and most importantly children that he had spent time with during his cancer treatment and rehabilitation in Canada. With the goal of raising $24 million, one dollar for each of Canada's 24 million people, Fox and Alwards started in St. Johns Newfoundland in April of 1980.
But the goal of this article is not give a biographical representation of his story, but to bring about an awareness and ultimately shed light on what I feel many of us have lost, the human spirit. I find that so many of us tend to get caught up in the future, regretting today in search of next week, next month or next year. The most inspirational thing about Terry's story is that it highlights the now. His sense of urgency and willingness to continue to push, regardless of the countless daily public appearances, arguments with his friends and incredible lack of support at the beginning of his race is a testament to the power of positive and constructive thought. Fox was noted to have kept a journal and would reflect on his journey on a daily basis, a notebook that served as a way for him to transpose his ideas, emotions and experiences into words.
That journal right there is the sole reason why I do this blog. Having an outlet with which to share your story and your experiences will ultimately live on and serve as a catalysts to solidify your legacy, while also introducing the notion of shared thinking. Having worked with individuals with disabilities during my experiences in undergrad, I can tell you that their willingness to learn, educate others and enjoy life are far more meaningful than so many of the mundane and often scripted conversations I find myself having on a daily basis. Individuals like Terry Fox have an unbelievable desire to spread the message about these issues as a way to add value to the voice of this population and focus others attention on the issues within our society that matter.
Yet although the spread of his cancer into his lungs eventually forced him to end his quest after 143 days and 3,339 mi, Fox's humbleness and efforts to educate others of his, and similar others situation, is what separates his journey from those who had come before. With pain in his chest, blurred vision, cysts, endless discomfort, terrain and his prosthesis begging for him to stop and encouraging him to quit, he raced on. One day at a time, one run at a time, one interview at a time and one step at a time. It would be easy to take one step forward and two steps back or say that your going to run 26 miles, and only complete 25. Yet the desire to succeed and finish the race were far to strong, and the expectations far to high, to give up hope on the ultimate cure.
Having watched Into the Wind and taken a day to reflect, it has come to my attention that I myself need to make some personal life changes. Having shared similar interested with Fox and his desire to study kinesology and become a physical education teacher, his quest to draw inspiration from and bring about opportunities for people with disabilities, and his unparalleled athletic dream to run long distance all translated into a responsibility on my end to use this platform as a way to continue to bring life to his movement. Gone are the days of making excuses, or saying something is to hard or can't be done. Gone are the days of listening to the opinions of others and setting my sights on this goals that I want to achieve. Gone are the days of personal satisfaction and individual success for these are the days of collective thought, shared thinking and creativity. For the greatest satisfaction is knowing you laid it all on the line in order to help someone else live out their life and achieve what they deem to be their ultimate success.
My three goals as it related to Terry's Story:
1. Write two blog posts a week on individuals with disabilities, their achievements, movements, accolades and research into new and existing technologies.
2. Run the Portland Marathon in 2011 / Put together a group of friends and run Hood to Coast in 2011.
3. Praise God everyday for the opportunities he has provided by spending time in the word.
*For a preview of ESPN Films 30 for 30: Into the Wind you can click on the title of this article. Additional information in regards to Terry's efforts and accolades are listed below.
Background: The annual Terry Fox Run, first held in 1981, has grown to involve millions of participants in over 60 countries and is now the world's largest one-day fundraiser for cancer research. Terry's efforts have raise approximately $500 million for cancer research and continues to shed light on the lives and circumstances of those living with cancer or disability. Fox was the youngest person ever named a Companion of the Order of Canada and won the 1980 Lou Marsh Award as the nation's top sportsman. Fox was also named Canada's Newsmaker of the Year in both 1980 and 1981 and is considered a national hero as he has had many buildings, roads and parks named in his honour across the country.
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