Terry Fox
Terry Fox in Toronto during his Marathon of Hope cross-country run (July 1980)
Born	Terrance Stanley Fox (1958-07-28)July 28, 1958 Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Died	June 28, 1981(1981-06-28) (aged 22) New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Cause of death	Metastatic osteosarcoma
Education	Simon Fraser University
Known for	Marathon of Hope
Title	Companion of the Order of Canada

Terrance Stanley "Terry" Fox CC OD, (July 28, 1958 – June 28, 1981) was a Canadian humanitarian, athlete, and cancer research activist. In 1980, with one leg having been amputated, he embarked on a cross-Canada run to raise money and awareness for cancer research. Although the spread of his cancer eventually forced him to end his quest after 143 days and 5,373 kilometres (3,339 mi), and ultimately cost him his life, his efforts resulted in a lasting, worldwide legacy. 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; over C$500 million has been raised in his name.

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 an artificial leg. He also played wheelchair basketball in Vancouver, winning three national championships.

In 1980, he began the Marathon of Hope, a cross-country run to raise money for cancer research. Fox hoped to raise one dollar for each of Canada's 24 million people. He began with little fanfare from St. John's, Newfoundland, in April and ran the equivalent of a full marathon every day. Fox had become a national star by the time he reached Ontario; he made numerous public appearances with businessmen, athletes, and politicians in his efforts to raise money. He was forced to end his run outside of Thunder Bay when the cancer spread to his lungs. His hopes of overcoming the disease and completing his marathon ended when he died nine months later.

Fox was the youngest person ever named a Companion of the Order of Canada. He won the 1980 Lou Marsh Award as the nation's top sportsman and was named Canada's Newsmaker of the Year in both 1980 and 1981. Considered a national hero, he has had many buildings, roads and parks named in his honour across the country.

Early life and cancer[link]

Terry Fox was born on July 28, 1958, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, to Rolland "Rolly" Fox and Betty Fox. Rolly was a switchman for the Canadian National Railway.^[1] Terry had an elder brother, Fred, a younger brother, Darrell and a younger sister, Judith.^[2] His family moved to Surrey, British Columbia, in 1966, then settled in Port Coquitlam in 1968.^[2] His parents were dedicated to their family, and his mother was especially protective of her children; it was through her that Fox developed his stubborn dedication to whatever task he committed to do.^[3] His father recalled that he was extremely competitive, noting that Terry hated to lose so much that he would continue at any activity until he succeeded.^[4]

He was an enthusiastic athlete, playing soccer, rugby and baseball as a child.^[5] His passion was for basketball and though he stood only five feet tall and was a poor player at the time, Fox sought to make his school team in grade eight. His physical education teacher and basketball coach at Mary Hill Junior High School felt he was better suited to be a distance runner and encouraged him to take up the sport. Fox had no desire for cross-country running, but took it up because he respected and wanted to please his coach.^[6] He was determined to continue playing basketball, even if he was the last substitute on the team. Fox played only one minute in his grade eight season but dedicated his summers to improving his play. He became a regular player in grade nine and earned a starting position in grade ten.^[7] In grade 12, he won his high school's athlete of the year award jointly with his best friend Doug Alward.^[2]

Though he was initially unsure if he wanted to go to university, Fox's mother convinced him to enrol at Simon Fraser University, where he studied kinesiology as a stepping stone to becoming a physical education teacher.^[8] He tried out for the junior varsity basketball team, earning a spot ahead of more talented players due to his determination.^[2]

On November 12, 1976, as Fox was driving home to Port Coquitlam, he became distracted by nearby bridge construction, and crashed into the back of a pickup truck. While his car was left undriveable, Fox emerged with only a sore right knee. He again felt pain in December, but chose to ignore it until the end of basketball season.^[9] By March 1977, the pain had intensified and he finally went to a hospital, where he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a form of cancer that often starts near the knees.^[2] Fox believed his car accident weakened his knee and left it vulnerable to the disease, though his doctors argued there was no connection.^[10] He was told that his leg had to be amputated, he would require chemotherapy treatment, and that recent medical advances meant he had a 50 percent chance of survival. Fox learned that two years before the figure would have been only 15 percent; the improvement in survival rates impressed on him the value of cancer research.^[11]

With the help of an artificial leg, Fox was walking three weeks after the amputation.^[2] He then progressed to playing golf with his father.^[12] Doctors were impressed with Fox's positive outlook, stating it contributed to his rapid recovery.^[13] He endured sixteen months of chemotherapy and found the time he spent in the British Columbia Cancer Control Agency facility difficult as he watched fellow cancer patients suffer and die from the disease.^[14] Fox ended his treatment with new purpose: he felt he owed his survival to medical advances and wished to live his life in a way that would help others find courage.^[15]

In the summer of 1977 Rick Hansen, working with the Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association, invited Fox to try out for his wheelchair basketball team.^[16] Although he was undergoing chemotherapy treatments at the time, Fox's energy impressed Hansen.^[2] Less than two months after learning how to play the sport, Fox was named a member of the team for the national championship in Edmonton.^[17] He won three national titles with the team,^[2] and was named an all-star by the North American Wheelchair Basketball Association in 1980.^[18]

Marathon of Hope[link]

Terry Fox statue in Beacon Hill Park, Victoria, British Columbia

The night before his cancer surgery, Fox had been given an article about Dick Traum, the first amputee to complete the New York City Marathon.^[2] The article inspired him; he embarked on a 14-month training program, telling his family he planned to compete in a marathon himself.^[1] In private, he devised a more extensive plan. His hospital experiences had made Fox angry at how little money was dedicated to cancer research. He intended to run the length of Canada in the hope of increasing cancer awareness, a goal he initially only divulged to his friend Douglas Alward.^[19]

Fox ran with an unusual gait, as he was required to hop-step on his good leg due to the extra time the springs in his artificial leg required to reset after each step.^[20] He found the training painful as the additional pressure he had to place on both his good leg and his stump led to bone bruises, blisters and intense pain. Fox found that after about 20 minutes of each run, he crossed a pain threshold and the run became easier.^[21]

In August 1979, Fox competed in a marathon in Prince George, British Columbia. He finished in last place, ten minutes behind his closest competitor, but his effort was met with tears and applause from the other participants.^[2] Following the marathon, he revealed his full plan to his family.^[22] His mother discouraged him, angering Fox, though she later came to support the project. She recalled, "He said, 'I thought you'd be one of the first persons to believe in me.' And I wasn't. I was the first person who let him down".^[23] Fox initially hoped to raise $1 million,^[23] then $10 million, but later sought to raise $1 for each of Canada's 24 million people.^[24]

Preparation[link]

On October 15, 1979, Fox sent a letter to the Canadian Cancer Society in which he announced his goal and appealed for funding. He stated that he would "conquer" his disability, and promised to complete his run, even if he had to "crawl every last mile". Explaining why he wanted to raise money for research, Fox described his personal experience of cancer treatment:

I soon realized that that would only be half my quest, for as I went through the 16 months of the physically and emotionally draining ordeal of chemotherapy, I was rudely awakened by the feelings that surrounded and coursed through the cancer clinic. There were faces with the brave smiles, and the ones who had given up smiling. There were feelings of hopeful denial, and the feelings of despair. My quest would not be a selfish one. I could not leave knowing these faces and feelings would still exist, even though I would be set free from mine. Somewhere the hurting must stop....and I was determined to take myself to the limit for this cause.^[25]

Fox made no promises that his efforts would lead to a cure for cancer, but he closed his letter with the statement: "We need your help. The people in cancer clinics all over the world need people who believe in miracles. I am not a dreamer, and I am not saying that this will initiate any kind of definitive answer or cure to cancer. I believe in miracles. I have to."^[25] The Cancer Society was skeptical of his dedication, but agreed to support Fox once he had acquired sponsors and requested he get a medical certificate from a heart specialist stating that he was fit to attempt the run. Fox was diagnosed with left ventricular hypertrophy — an enlarged heart — a condition commonly associated with athletes. Doctors warned Fox of the potential risks he faced, though they did not consider his condition a significant concern. They endorsed his participation when he promised that he would stop immediately if he began to experience any heart problems.^[26]

A second letter was sent to several corporations seeking donations for a vehicle, running shoes and to cover the other costs of the run.^[27] Fox sent other letters asking for grants to buy a running leg. He observed that while he was grateful to be alive following his cancer treatment, "I remember promising myself that, should I live, I would rise up to meet this new challenge [of fundraising for cancer research] face to face and prove myself worthy of life, something too many people take for granted."^[27] The Ford Motor Company donated a camper van,^[3] while Imperial Oil contributed fuel, and Adidas his running shoes.^[28] Fox turned away any company that requested he endorse their products and refused any donation that carried conditions as he insisted that nobody was to profit from his run.^[3]

Trek across Canada[link]

Fox's path across eastern Canada. He began at St. John's on the east coast and ran west.

The Marathon began on April 12, 1980, when Fox dipped his right leg in the Atlantic Ocean near St. John's, Newfoundland, and filled two large bottles with ocean water. He intended to keep one as a souvenir and pour the other into the Pacific Ocean upon completing his journey at Victoria, British Columbia.^[24] Fox was supported on his run by Doug Alward, who drove the van and cooked meals.^[28]

Fox was met with gale force winds, heavy rain and a snowstorm in the first days of his run.^[1] He was initially disappointed with the reception he received, but was heartened upon arriving in Port aux Basques, Newfoundland, where the town's 10,000 residents presented him with a donation of over $10,000.^[28] Throughout the trip, Fox frequently expressed his anger and frustration to those he saw as impeding the run, and he fought regularly with Alward. By the time they reached Nova Scotia, they were barely on speaking terms, and it was arranged for Fox's brother Darrell, then 17, to join them as a buffer.^[23] Fox left the Maritimes on June 10 and faced new challenges entering Quebec due to his group's inability to speak French^[29] and drivers who continually forced him off the road.^[30] Fox arrived in Montreal on June 22, one-third of the way through his 8,000-kilometre (5,000 mi) journey, having collected over $200,000 in donations.^[20] Around this time, Terry Fox's run caught the attention of Isadore Sharp who was the founder and CEO of Four Seasons Hotel and Resorts—and who had lost a son to melanoma in 1978 just a year after Terry's diagnosis.^[31] Sharp was intrigued by the story of a one-legged kid "trying to do the impossible" and run across the country; so he offered food and accommodation at his hotels en route. When Terry was discouraged because so few people were making donations, Sharp pledged $2 a mile [to the run] and persuaded close to 1,000 other corporations to do the same.^[32] Sharp's encouragement persuaded Terry to continue with the Marathon of Hope. Convinced by the Canadian Cancer Society that arriving in Ottawa for Canada Day would aid fundraising efforts, he remained in Montreal for a few extra days.^[30]

Memorial at Mile 0 in St. John's

Fox crossed into Ontario at the town of Hawkesbury on the last Saturday in June. He was met by a brass band and thousands of residents who lined the streets to cheer him on, while the Ontario Provincial Police gave him an escort throughout the province.^[33] Despite the sweltering heat of summer, he continued to run 26 miles (42 km) per day.^[29] On his arrival in Ottawa, Fox met Governor General Ed Schreyer and Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and was the guest of honour at numerous sporting events in the city.^[33] In front of 16,000 fans, he performed a ceremonial kickoff at a Canadian Football League game and was given a standing ovation. Fox's journal reflected his growing excitement at the reception he had received as he began to understand how deeply moved Canadians were by his efforts.^[34]

A crowd of 10,000 people met Fox in Toronto, where he was honoured in Nathan Phillips Square. As he ran to the square, he was joined on the road by many people, including National Hockey League star Darryl Sittler, who presented Fox with his 1980 All-Star Game jersey. The Cancer Society estimated it collected $100,000 in donations that day alone.^[2] As he continued through southern Ontario, he was met by Hockey Hall of Famer Bobby Orr who presented him with a cheque for $25,000. Fox considered meeting Orr the highlight of his journey.^[2]

As Fox's fame grew, the Cancer Society scheduled him to attend more functions and give more speeches.^[35] Fox attempted to accommodate any request that he believed would raise money, no matter how far out of his way it took him.^[36] He bristled, however, at what he felt were media intrusions into his personal life, for example when the Toronto Star reported that he had gone on a date.^[37] Fox was left unsure whom he could trust in the media after negative articles began to emerge, including one by the Globe and Mail that characterized him as a "tyrannical brother" who verbally abused Darrell and claimed he was running because he held a grudge against a doctor who had misdiagnosed his condition, allegations he referred to as "trash".^[38]

The physical demands of running a marathon every day took its toll on Fox's body. Apart from the rest days in Montreal taken at the request of the Cancer Society, he refused to take a day off, even on his 22nd birthday.^[39] He frequently suffered shin splints and an inflamed knee. He developed cysts on his stump and experienced dizzy spells.^[40] At one point, he suffered a soreness in his ankle that would not go away. Although he feared he had developed a stress fracture, he ran for three more days before seeking medical attention, and was then relieved to learn it was tendonitis and could be treated with painkillers.^[41] Fox rejected calls for him to seek regular medical checkups,^[42] and dismissed suggestions he was risking his future health.^[38]

In spite of his immense recuperative capacity,^[43] Fox found that by late August he was exhausted before he began his day's run.^[44] On September 1, outside of Thunder Bay, he was forced to stop briefly after he suffered an intense coughing fit and experienced pains in his chest. Unsure what to do, he resumed running as the crowds along the highway shouted out their encouragement.^[45] A few miles later, short of breath and with continued chest pain, he asked Alward to drive him to a hospital. He feared immediately that he had run his last kilometer.^[46] The next day, Fox held a tearful press conference during which he announced that his cancer had returned and spread to his lungs. He was forced to end his run after 143 days and 5,373 kilometres (3,339 mi).^[47] Fox refused offers to complete the run in his stead, stating that he wanted to complete his marathon himself.^[2]

National response[link]

Terry Fox statue in Ottawa

Fox had raised $1.7 million by the time he was forced to abandon the Marathon. He realized that the nation was about to see the consequences of the disease, and hoped that this might lead to greater generosity.^[48] A week after his run ended, the CTV Television Network organized a nationwide telethon in support of Fox and the Canadian Cancer Society.^[49] Supported by Canadian and international celebrities, the five-hour event raised $10.5 million.^[2] Among the donations were $1 million each by the governments of British Columbia and Ontario, the former to create a new research institute to be founded in Fox's name, and the latter an endowment given to the Ontario Cancer Treatment and Research Foundation.^[50] Donations continued throughout the winter, and by the following April, over $23 million had been raised.^[51]

Supporters and well wishers from around the world inundated Fox with letters and tokens of support. At one point, he was receiving more mail than the rest of Port Coquitlam combined.^[52] Such was his fame that one letter addressed simply to "Terry Fox, Canada" was successfully delivered.^[53]

In September 1980 he was invested in a special ceremony as a Companion of the Order of Canada; he was the youngest person to be so honoured.^[54][55] The Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia named him to the Order of the Dogwood, the province's highest award.^[56] Canada's Sports Hall of Fame commissioned a permanent exhibit,^[57] and Fox was named the winner of the Lou Marsh Award for 1980 as the nation's top athlete.^[58] He was named Canada's 1980 Newsmaker of the Year. The Ottawa Citizen described the national response to his marathon as "one of the most powerful outpourings of emotion and generosity in Canada's history".^[59]

Death[link]

In the following months, Fox received multiple chemotherapy treatments; however, the disease continued to spread.^[60] As his condition worsened, Canadians hoped for a miracle and Pope John Paul II sent a telegram saying that he was praying for Fox.^[61] Doctors turned to experimental interferon treatments, though their effectiveness against osteogenic sarcoma was unknown.^[62] He suffered an adverse reaction to his first treatment,^[63] but continued the program after a period of rest.^[64]

Fox was re-admitted to the Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster on June 19, 1981, with chest congestion and developed pneumonia.^[65] He fell into a coma and died at 4:35 a.m. PDT on June 28, 1981, with his family by his side.^[66][67] The Government of Canada ordered flags across the country lowered to half staff, an unprecedented honour that was usually reserved for statesmen.^[68] Addressing the House of Commons, Trudeau said, "It occurs very rarely in the life of a nation that the courageous spirit of one person unites all people in the celebration of his life and in the mourning of his death ... We do not think of him as one who was defeated by misfortune but as one who inspired us with the example of the triumph of the human spirit over adversity".^[69]

His funeral, attended by 40 relatives and 200 guests,^[69] was broadcast on national television; hundreds of communities across Canada also held memorial services,^[70] a public memorial service was held on Parliament Hill in Ottawa,^[71] and Canadians again overwhelmed Cancer Society offices with donations.^[72]

Legacy[link]

Participants of the 2007 Terry Fox Run in Milan, Italy

Fox remains a prominent figure in Canadian folklore. His determination united the nation; people from all walks of life lent their support to his run and his memory inspires pride in all regions of the country.^[73] A 1999 national survey named him as Canada's greatest hero,^[74] and he finished second to Tommy Douglas in the 2004 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation program The Greatest Canadian.^[75] Fox's heroic status has been attributed to his image as an ordinary person attempting a remarkable and inspirational feat.^[76][77] Others have argued that Fox's greatness derives from his audacious vision, his determined pursuit of his goal, his ability to overcome challenges such as his lack of experience and the very loneliness of his venture.^[76][78] As Fox's advocate on The Greatest Canadian, media personality Sook-Yin Lee compared him to a classic hero, Phidippides, the runner who delivered the news of the Battle of Marathon before dying, and asserted that Fox "embodies the most cherished Canadian values: compassion, commitment, perseverance". She highlighted the juxtaposition between his celebrity, brought about by the unforgettable image he created, and his rejection of the trappings of that celebrity.^[79] Typically amongst Canadian icons, Fox is an unconventional hero, admired but not without flaws.^[80] An obituary in the Canadian Family Physician emphasized his humanity and noted that his anger—at his diagnosis, at press misrepresentations and at those he saw as encroaching on his independence—spoke against ascribing sainthood for Fox, and thus placed his achievements within the reach of all.^[76]

Attitudes to disability[link]

Fox expressed a robust attitude to his situation: he refused to regard himself as disabled,^[81] and would not allow anyone to pity him, telling a Toronto radio station that he found life more "rewarding and challenging" since he had lost his leg.^[76] His feat helped redefine Canadian views of disability and the inclusion of the disabled in society.^[82][83] Fox's actions increased the visibility of people with disabilities,^[83][84] and in addition influenced the attitudes of those with disabilities, by showing them disability portrayed in a positive light.^[83] Rick Hansen commented that the run challenged society to focus on ability rather than disability. "What was perceived as a limitation became a great opportunity. People with disabilities started looking at things differently. They came away with huge pride", he wrote.^[85]

In contrast, the narrative surrounding Fox has been critiqued as illustrating the media's focus on stereotyped portrayals of the heroic and extraordinary achievements of people with disabilities, rather than more mundane accomplishments.^[86][87] Actor Alan Toy noted "Sure, it raised money for cancer research and sure it showed the human capacity for achievement. But a lot of disabled people are made to feel like failures if they haven't done something extraordinary. They may be bankers or factory workers – proof enough of their usefulness to society. Do we have to be 'supercrips' in order to be valid? And if we're not super, are we invalid?"^[86] The media's idealization of Fox has also been critiqued for emphasizing an individualistic approach to illness and disability, in which the body is a machine to be mastered, rather than the social model of disability, where societal attitudes and barriers to inclusion play a prominent role in determining who is disabled.^[88][89]

Terry Fox Run[link]

One of Fox's earliest supporters was Isadore Sharp, founder of the Four Seasons Hotels. Sharp had lost his own son to cancer and offered Fox and his companions free accommodation at his hotels.^[2] He donated $10,000 and challenged 999 other businesses to do the same.^[90] Sharp also proposed an annual fundraising run in Fox's name. Fox agreed, but insisted that the runs be non-competitive. There were to be no winners or losers, and anyone who participated could run, walk or ride.^[91] Sharp faced opposition to the project. The Cancer Society feared that a fall run would detract from its traditional April campaigns, while other charities believed that an additional fundraiser would leave less money for their causes.^[92] Sharp persisted, and he, the Four Seasons Hotels and the Fox family organized the first Terry Fox Run on September 13, 1981.^[91]

Over 300,000 people took part and raised $3.5 million in the first Terry Fox Run.^[90] Schools across Canada were urged to join the second run, held on September 19, 1982.^[93] School participation has continued since, evolving into the National School Run Day.^[94] The runs, which raised over $20 million in its first six years,^[92] grew into an international event as over one million people in 60 countries took part in 1999, raising $15 million that year alone.^[95] By the Terry Fox Run's 25th anniversary, more than three million people were taking part annually. Grants from the Terry Fox Foundation, which organizes the runs, have helped Canadian scientists make numerous advances in cancer research.^[96] The Terry Fox Run is the world's largest one-day fundraiser for cancer research,^[97] and over $500 million has been raised in his name.^[98] The 30th Terry Fox Run was held September 19, 2010.^[99]

Honours[link]

Memorial erected outside of Thunder Bay on the Trans Canada Highway near the spot where Fox was forced to end his marathon.

The physical memorials in Canada named after Fox include:^[100]

• Approximately 32 roads and streets, including the Terry Fox Courage Highway near Thunder Bay, near where Fox ended his run and where an oversized statue of him was erected as a monument;^[101]
• 14 schools, including a new school in a suburb of Montreal that was renamed Terry Fox Elementary School shortly after he died,^[102] and the Port Coquitlam high school, from which he had graduated, which was renamed Terry Fox Secondary School on 18 January 1986;^[103]
• 14 other buildings, including many athletic centres and the Terry Fox Research Institute in Vancouver;
• Seven statues, including the Terry Fox Monument in Ottawa, which was the genesis of The Path of Heroes, a federal government initiative that seeks to honour the people that shaped the nation;^[104]
• nine fitness trails;
• A previously unnamed mountain in the Canadian Rockies in the Selwyn range, which was named Mount Terry Fox by the government of British Columbia;^[105] the area around it is now known as Mount Terry Fox Provincial Park; and
• The Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker CCGS Terry Fox, which was commissioned in 1983.^[106]
• In 2011, a series of bronze sculptures of Fox in motion was unveiled outside of BC Place in downtown Vancouver. They were designed by author Douglas Coupland and depict Fox running toward the Pacific Ocean.^[107]

Terry Fox memorial plaque in Beacon Hill Park, Victoria, B.C.

Shortly after his death, Fox was named the Newsmaker of the Year for 1981,^[108] and Canada Post announced the production of a commemorative stamp in 1981, bypassing its traditionally held position that stamps honouring people should not be created until ten years after their deaths.^[109] British rock star Rod Stewart was so moved by the Marathon of Hope that he was inspired to write and dedicate the song "Never Give Up on a Dream" — found on his 1981 album Tonight I'm Yours — to Fox. Stewart also called his 1981–1982 tour of Canada the "Terry Fox Tour".^[110]

The Terry Fox Hall of Fame was established in 1994 to recognize individuals that have made contributions that improved the quality of life of disabled people.^[104][111] The Terry Fox Laboratory research centre was established in Vancouver to conduct leading edge research into the causes and potential cures for cancer.

The Royal Canadian Mint produced a special dollar coin in 2005 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Marathon of Hope. It was their first regular circulation coin to feature a Canadian.^[112] His mother, Betty Fox, was one of eight people to carry the Olympic Flag into BC Place Stadium at the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.^[113] The games saw the Terry Fox Award bestowed on Olympic athletes who embodied Fox's characteristics of determination and humility in the face of adversity.^[114]

Films[link]

Fox's story was dramatized in the 1983 biopic The Terry Fox Story. Produced by Home Box Office, the film aired as a television movie in the United States and had a theatrical run in Canada.^[115] The film starred amputee actor Eric Fryer and Robert Duvall, and was the first film made exclusively for pay television.^[116] The movie received mixed but generally positive reviews.^[115] However, it was criticized by Fox's family over how it portrayed his temper.^[117] The Terry Fox Story was nominated for eight Genie Awards, and won five, including Best Picture and Best Actor.^[118]

A second movie, titled Terry, focused on the Marathon of Hope, was produced by the CTV Television Network in 2005. Fox was portrayed by Shawn Ashmore. He is not an amputee; digital editing was used to superimpose a prosthesis over his real leg. The film was endorsed by Fox's family, and portrayed his attitude more positively than the first movie.^[117] Canadian National Basketball Association star Steve Nash, who himself was inspired by Fox when he was a child, directed a 2010 documentary Into the Wind, which aired on ESPN as part of its 30 for 30 series.^[119][120]

Steve Fonyo and Rick Hansen[link]

Terry Fox was not the first person to attempt to run across Canada. Mark Kent crossed the country in 1974 as he raised money for the Canadian team at the 1976 Summer Olympics.^[1][121] While he lived, Fox refused to let anyone else complete the Marathon of Hope, having promised to finish it himself once he recovered.^[91] Steve Fonyo, an 18-year-old who suffered from the same form of cancer and who also had a leg amputated, sought in 1984 to duplicate Fox's run, calling his effort the "Journey for Lives".^[122] After leaving St. John's on March 31, Fonyo reached the point where Fox was forced to end his marathon at the end of November,^[123] and completed the transcontinental run on May 29, 1985.^[124] The Journey for Lives raised over $13 million for cancer research.^[125]

Canadian Paralympic athlete Rick Hansen, who had recruited Fox to play on his wheelchair basketball team in 1977, was similarly inspired by the Marathon of Hope.^[126] Hansen, who first considered circumnavigating the globe in his wheelchair in 1974, began the Man in Motion World Tour in 1985 with the goal of raising $10 million towards research into spinal cord injuries.^[127] As Fonyo had, Hansen paused at the spot Fox's run ended to honour the late runner.^[101] Hansen completed his world tour in May 1987 after 792 days and 40,073 kilometres (24,900 mi);^[128] he travelled through 34 countries and raised over $26 million.^[129]

See also[link]

	History of Canada portal
	Biography portal

• Persons of National Historic Significance (Canada)
• Terry (book)

References[link]

Footnotes

Bibliography

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Terry Fox

• The Terry Fox Foundation
• CBC Digital Archives – Terry Fox 25: Reliving the Marathon of Hope
• BC Sports Hall of Fame and Museum
• The Canadian Encyclopedia, The Courage of Terry Fox

Jay Triano

Jay Triano (right)
Personal information
Born	(1958-09-21) September 21, 1958 (age 53) Tillsonburg, Ontario, Canada
Career information
College	Simon Fraser University
NBA Draft	1981 / Round: 8 / Pick: 18th overall
Selected by the Los Angeles Lakers
Career history
As coach:
2008–2011	Toronto Raptors

Jay Triano (born September 21, 1958) is a retired Canadian professional basketball player and former head coach of the NBA's Toronto Raptors. Triano gained recognition during his tenure as coach of the Canadian men's national team. He is also a former national team player, who competed in two Olympics, starting in 1984. He was born in Tillsonburg, Ontario and raised in Niagara Falls, Ontario.

Triano is of Italian descent through his great-grandfather, who landed on Ellis Island, then made his way to Welland, Ontario.^[1] His younger brother Jeff was a draft pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1982 NHL Entry Draft after playing OHL hockey for the Toronto Marlboros.

Basketball career[link]

As a student at Simon Fraser University, Triano broke or equalled eleven school men's basketball records, including having the most career points with 2,616. He was drafted in the eighth round of the 1981 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers, but never played in the NBA. The same year, he was also drafted by the Calgary Stampeders in the sixth round of the CFL Draft.

Triano was a national team player from 1978 to 1988, captained the team from 1981 to 1988, and played in the 1984 and 1988 Olympics. He led the Canadian team that won Gold at the 1983 World University Games in Edmonton, Alberta. He played three seasons of professional basketball, two in Mexico and one (1985–86 season for Fenerbahçe Istanbul) in Turkey.

After retiring as a player, he became head coach at his alma mater, Simon Fraser University in 1988. In 1995, when the Vancouver Grizzlies debuted, he became team Director of Community Relations and worked as the colour commentator for their radio broadcasts. In 1998, Triano became the head coach of the Canadian national men's basketball team. He led them to a 5–2 record and a seventh-place finish in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, losing to France by just five points in the quarter-finals. Two years later, he became assistant coach for the Toronto Raptors, becoming the first Canadian-born coach in the NBA. He served under Lenny Wilkens, Kevin O'Neill, and Sam Mitchell. In 2005, he was replaced by Leo Rautins as the national team coach.

In 2008, Triano was named an assistant coach for USA Basketball. On February 13, 2008, Triano served as head coach of the Toronto Raptors in their 109–91 victory over the New Jersey Nets, in place of head coach Sam Mitchell who was absent from the team as a result of the passing of his father-in-law, making history as the first Canadian to serve as head coach for a regular-season NBA game.

On December 3, 2008, Triano was named interim head coach of the Toronto Raptors after Sam Mitchell was relieved of his coaching duties. He became the first Canadian-born head coach in NBA history.^[2] In the season's last 13 games, Triano guided the Raptors to a 9-4 mark.^[3]

On May 12, 2009, Triano was given a three-year deal to remain head coach of the Toronto Raptors.

In Triano's first full season as the Raptors head coach, Toronto missed the playoffs by one game to the Chicago Bulls despite winning their final two games.

On June 1, 2011 the Raptors announced they would not be picking up the option on Triano's contract and would be giving him a different position within the organization. Triano is now the Vice-President of Pro Scouting with the Raptors.

Coaching record[link]

Sources[link]

See also[link]

• Canada Basketball
• Canada men's national basketball team
• Toronto Raptors
• USA Basketball

External links[link]

• NBA.com profile
• Basketball-Reference.com profile
• B.C. Basketball Hall of Fame page
• Niagara Falls Hall of Fame profile

Steve Nash

Nash with the Suns
No. 13 – Phoenix Suns
Point guard
Personal information
Born	(1974-02-07) 7 February 1974 (age 38) Johannesburg, South Africa
Nationality	Canadian, British[1]
Listed height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight	178 lb (81 kg)
Career information
College	Santa Clara
NBA Draft	1996 / Round: 1 / Pick: 15th overall
Selected by the Phoenix Suns
Pro career	1996–present
Career history
1996–1998	Phoenix Suns
1998–2004	Dallas Mavericks
2004–present	Phoenix Suns
Career highlights and awards
2× NBA Most Valuable Player (2005, 2006) 8× NBA All-Star (2002–2003, 2005–2008, 2010, 2012) 3× All-NBA First Team (2005–2007) 2× All-NBA Second Team (2008, 2010) 2× All-NBA Third Team (2002–2003) 2× Skills Challenge Champion (2005, 2010) J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award (2007) Lou Marsh Trophy (2004) 3× Lionel Conacher Award (2002, 2005–2006)

Stephen John "Steve" Nash, OC, OBC (born 7 February 1974) is a South African-born Canadian professional basketball player who plays point guard for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nash enjoyed a successful high-school basketball career, and he was eventually given a scholarship by Santa Clara University. In his four seasons with the Broncos, the team made three NCAA Tournament appearances, and Nash was twice named the West Coast Conference Player of the Year.

After graduating from Santa Clara as the team's all-time leader in assists, Nash entered the 1996 NBA Draft and was selected as the 15th pick by the Phoenix Suns. He made a minimal impact, and was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in 1998. By his third season with the Mavericks, he was voted into his first NBA All-Star Game and had earned his first All-NBA selection. Together with Dirk Nowitzki and Michael Finley, Nash led the Mavericks to the Western Conference Finals the following season. However, he became a free agent after the 2003–04 season and returned to the Phoenix Suns.

In the 2004–05 season, Nash led the Suns to the Western Conference Finals, and was named the league's Most Valuable Player (MVP). He was named MVP again in the 2005–06 season, and missed out on a third consecutive MVP title to Nowitzki the next season. Named by ESPN in 2006 as the ninth greatest point guard of all time, Nash has led the league in assists and free-throw percentage at various points in his career. He is also ranked as one of the top players in NBA league history for three-point shooting, free-throw shooting, total assists and assists per game.

Nash has been honoured for his contributions to various philanthropic causes. In 2006, he was named by Time as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. He also received the Order of Canada in 2007, and was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws by the University of Victoria in 2008.

Early life[link]

Nash was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, to a Welsh mother and an English father on 7 February 1974.^[3][4][5] His family moved to Regina, Saskatchewan, when he was 18 months old, then to Vancouver, before finally settling in Victoria, British Columbia.^[6] Although Nash played soccer and ice hockey, often with his younger brother, Martin, he did not start playing basketball until he was 12 or 13.^[2] In eighth grade, however, he told his mother that one day he would play in the NBA and would become a star.^[6]

High school[link]

Nash originally attended Mount Douglas Secondary School, but after his grades began to drop, his parents decided to enroll him at St. Michaels University School, a private boarding school.^[7] At St. Michaels, he starred in basketball, soccer, and rugby union. While playing basketball during his senior season, Nash averaged 21.3 points, 11.2 assists, and 9.1 rebounds per game.^[8] In the 1991–92 season, he led his team in his final year to the British Columbia AAA provincial championship title, and was named the province's Player of the Year.^[9]

College career[link]

Although Nash's high school coach, Ian Hyde-Lay, sent letters of inquiry and highlight reels on Nash's behalf to over 30 American universities, Nash was not recruited by any university,^[6] until Santa Clara coach Dick Davey requested video footage of the young guard. After watching Nash in person, Davey said he "was nervous as hell just hoping that no one else would see him. It didn't take a Nobel Prize winner to figure out this guy's pretty good. It was just a case of hoping that none of the big names came around."^[7] However, Davey also told Nash that he was "the worst defensive player" he had ever seen.^[7]

Nash was awarded a scholarship by Santa Clara for the 1992–93 season. At that time, it had been five years since the Broncos appeared in the NCAA tournament. That changed when Nash led the Broncos to a West Coast Conference (WCC) Tournament title and an upset win over the No. 2 seeded Arizona in the first round of the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament.^[6] In that game, Nash scored six straight free throws in the last 30 seconds of the contest.^[7] Although Santa Clara was defeated by Temple in the next round, the 1992–93 campaign was considered a successful one. However, the Broncos failed to sustain the momentum the following season, and only managed a 5–7 record in the conference.^[6] The team rebounded in the 1994–95 season, with Nash being named Conference Player of the Year and the Broncos topping the WCC.^[6] Featuring the league leader for scoring and assists in Nash, the Broncos returned to the NCAA tournament, but they were defeated by Mississippi State.^[6] After the season, Nash contemplated turning professional, and decided against it when he learned that he would probably not be considered as a first-round pick in the 1995 NBA Draft.^[6]

In the 1995–96 season, Nash began attracting the attention of the national media and professional scouts. He had spent the summer before that honing his skills, playing with the Canadian national team and working out with the likes of established NBA players Jason Kidd and Gary Payton.^[6] Santa Clara again captured the WCC title, and for the second consecutive year, Nash was named Conference Player of the Year, the first Bronco to do so since Kurt Rambis.^[8] He scored 28 points in leading the #10 seed Broncos to a first round upset win over #7 seed Maryland, but then the Broncos were eliminated by Kansas. Nash's performances ensured that he was named Honorable Mention All-America as a senior by The Associated Press and the USBWA. He also finished his career as Santa Clara's all-time leader in career assists (510), free-throw percentage (.862), and made and attempted three-pointers (263–656).^[8] He remains third on the school's all-time scoring list (1,689), and holds Santa Clara's single-season free-throw percentage record (.894).^[8] In September 2006, Nash had his jersey (#11) retired, becoming the first Santa Clara student-athlete to receive that honour.^[10]

NCAA career statistics[link]

NBA career[link]

Phoenix Suns (1996–98)[link]

After graduating with a degree in sociology,^[7] Nash was selected 15th overall by the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the 1996 NBA Draft. Upon hearing the draft announcement, Suns fans booed in disapproval of the relatively unknown player.^[7] This was because despite his impressive college accomplishments, Nash had not played in one of the major college conferences. During his first two seasons in the NBA, Nash played a supporting role behind NBA star point guards Kevin Johnson, Sam Cassell, and later, Jason Kidd.^[6] Both Johnson and Cassell had NBA Finals experience, while Kidd was the second overall pick in the 1994 NBA Draft and already an All-Star when he arrived at Phoenix.

In his rookie season, Nash only managed 10.5 minutes a game,^[12] but in his second season, his playing time increased significantly and he was even ranked 13th in the league for three-point field-goal percentage.^[6] Nevertheless, the Canadian's tenure with the Suns did not last. While at Santa Clara, Nash had met and befriended Dallas Mavericks assistant coach Donnie Nelson, who worked for the Golden State Warriors at that time. After moving to Dallas, Nelson was able to convince his father, Don Nelson—then the Mavericks coach and general manager—to acquire the under-utilised Nash.^[6] Following the 1998 NBA Draft, Nash was traded from the Suns to the Mavericks in exchange for Martin Müürsepp, Bubba Wells, the draft rights to Pat Garrity and a first-round draft pick (who later turned out to be future Phoenix team-mate Shawn Marion).^[6]

Dallas Mavericks (1998–2004)[link]

It was in Dallas that Nash established himself as a formidable point guard, beginning a decade as one of the game's top players. During his first year as a Maverick (the lockout-shortened 1998–99 season) he started in all 40 games he played in, and averaged 7.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game.^[12] The 19–31 Mavericks failed to make the playoffs but in the 1999–2000 season, the team's prospects improved considerably. Nash missed 25 mid-season games due to an ankle injury, but came back to record six double-doubles in the last month of play.^[8] He finished the season with averages of 8.6 points and 4.9 assists per game.^[12] More importantly for the team, second-year teammate and friend Dirk Nowitzki was blossoming quickly into a top player, veteran Michael Finley was having an All-Star-calibre year, and the team's new owner, billionaire Mark Cuban, was bringing new energy and excitement to the franchise. Nash now had a supportive environment in which he could thrive.

In the 2000–01 season, Nash averaged 15.6 points and 7.3 assists per game in a breakout season.^[12] With Nash directing the team's offense, Nowitzki and Finley playing at their best, and the acquisition of All-Star Juwan Howard complementing the high-scoring trio, the Mavericks earned a playoff berth for the first time in more than a decade. Dallas lost in the Western Conference Semifinals four games to one to the San Antonio Spurs, but it marked the beginning of a memorable run for Nash and the Mavericks.^[13] In the 2001–02 season, Nash posted career-highs of 17.9 points and 7.7 assists per game^[12] and earned a spot in the NBA All-Star Game and on the All-NBA Third Team.^[14][15] He was now an All-Star, increasingly appearing in television commercials and, with Finley and Nowitzki, a part of the Dallas Mavericks "Big Three."^[16] Dallas earned another trip to the playoffs but lost again in the Semifinals to the Sacramento Kings four games to one.^[17]

Nash closely replicated his previous season's performance in the 2002–03 season, averaging 17.7 points and 7.3 assists per game,^[12] again earning All-Star and All-NBA Third Team honours.^[14][18] Nowitzki and Nash led the Mavericks from a 14-game winning streak to open the season all the way to the Western Conference Finals, where they lost to the eventual NBA champions, the San Antonio Spurs four games to two.^[19] It was only the second Conference Finals appearance in the franchise's history. The 2003–04 season saw an offensively boosted Mavericks roster (with the acquisitions of Antoine Walker and Antawn Jamison) but a dip in Nash's scoring contributions. As a result he was not selected for the All-Star and All-NBA team rosters even though he achieved new career highs in assists per game (8.8) and free-throw accuracy (91.6%).^[12] In the playoffs, the fifth-seeded Dallas failed to make progress yet again as the Sacramento Kings saw them off four games to one.^[20]

After the 2003–04 season, Nash became a free agent. He attempted to negotiate a long-term contract with Cuban, who was paying Walker, Finley, Nowitzki and Jamison nearly $50 million in combined salaries that season. Cuban wanted to build his franchise around the younger Nowitzki and did not want to risk signing the 30-year-old Nash to a long-term deal, and offered Nash a four-year deal worth about $9 million annually, with a fifth year partially guaranteed. The Phoenix Suns on the other hand offered the point guard a six-year, $63 million contract. Nash was reluctant to leave Dallas and returned to Cuban to see if he would match the deal; Cuban did not, and Nash signed for the Suns for the 2004–05 season. The Canadian would go on to win two League MVP awards with Phoenix, and on a 14 June 2006 appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman, Cuban wondered out loud, "... you know Steve's a great guy and I love him to death, but why couldn't he play like an MVP for us?"^[21]

Return to Phoenix Suns (2004–present)[link]

Nash joined a Suns team which had emerging young players in Shawn Marion, Joe Johnson and Amar'e Stoudemire. In the season before Nash arrived, the Suns had recorded a 29–53 win–loss record,^[6] and they were projected to have another poor season. Head coach Mike D'Antoni favoured an up-tempo style of basketball; this required smaller and more athletic players with the capability to outrun and outshoot their opponents. Nash's familiarity with this style combined with the athleticism of his teammates produced an NBA-best 62–20 record and a points-per-game average of 110.4, the highest in a decade.^[22] The catalyst of this turnaround, Nash averaged 11.5 assists per game while making 50.2% of his field goals and 43.1% of his three-pointers in the regular season.^[12][23] He edged Shaquille O'Neal to win the 2004–05 NBA MVP award,^[24] becoming the first Canadian to earn the honour, as well as the third point guard ever to be named MVP, along with Magic Johnson and Bob Cousy.^[8] In the playoffs, Phoenix swept the Memphis Grizzlies in four games before meeting the Dallas Mavericks in the second round.^[25] Nash led the Suns to a 4–2 series win,^[25] and the Suns reached the Western Conference finals for the first time since 1993, but lost to the eventual NBA Champions and arch-rival, the San Antonio Spurs, in five games.^[25]