At the age of 18, Terry Fox of Port Coquitlam, B.C., was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a form of cancer. Fox's right leg would be amputated and he would be fitted with an artificial leg, having to relearn how to walk and eventually to run.
It was his experience with the disease and the need for cancer research, which then inspired him to run across Canada in the Marathon of Hope in 1980. This trek, however, was stopped short after running from outside of St. John's, Newfoundland, to Thunder Bay, ON.
While running he had become short of breath and pain began to permeate his chest. His cancer had returned and he was now fighting the disease, which had spread to his lungs.
In the end he ran 143 days, 5,373km, and successfully raised $1 for every Canadian living in the country at that time.
The annual Terry Fox Run then began in 1981, with schools and communities deciding to participate over the years.
Locally numerous schools hosted their annual Terry Fox Run on Wednesday, Sept. 24, including White Bear School, Carlyle Elementary School, G.F. Kells High School, Stoughton School, and Arcola School.
The importance of the schools participating in the run comes through wanting to teach the students about a seemingly ordinary individual who was able to inspire a country and the world.
In addition to holding Fox up as a role model amongst youth in never giving up and working towards one's goals, the run encourages activism in fundraising money for cancer research and awareness.
Whether walking around town, like the Carlyle Elementary School, or being dropped off five miles from school, like the older Arcola School students, the thoughts and driving force behind the walk were the same. They were all taught about Fox's struggles and were encouraged to embrace an active lifestyle.
Manor School is set to hold their Terry Fox Run on Friday, Oct. 3.