ASSINIBOIA — Finally, was a common word uttered amongst Canadians when it was announced Dec. 17 that Canada’s hero, Terry Fox, would be featured on the new $5 bill.
The federal government announced it in the fall economic statement on Dec. 16.
Anyone who remembers the 1980s will remember the legacy that started with Fox’s remarkable Marathon of Hope, raising money for cancer research.
Fox, who lost his leg to cancer, was determined to raise money for cancer research. His marathon, although he was unable to finish because the cancer had returned, raised more than $24 million. The young Canadian made a passionate plea, urging the country’s residents to donate even a dollar towards his campaign.
Terry Fox is the youngest person to be named a Companion of the Order of Canada.
His legacy continues with the annual September fundraising initiative, Terry Fox run that has now raised more than $850M for cancer research.
The fall economic statement says Fox's addition to the $5 bill is "to inspire more Canadians to give $5 to the cause that Terry Fox championed."
"Through his efforts, the 22-year-old showed Canadians the difference that an ordinary person could make through sheer willpower and determination," reads a passage from the economic update.
Fox will replace Sir Wilfrid Laurier, who will move from the $5 bill to the $50 note. It's unclear what will come of William Lyon Mackenzie King who is currently on the $50 bill.
Canadians across the country considered Fox their hometown hero and the country was deeply saddened by his passing in 1981. He has been considered one of Canada’s heroes as he made a profound impact on many lives since his brave cancer fundraising campaign began.
Fox has been memorialized in other ways including a postage stamp released in 2017. The Terry Fox Foundation evolved from the Canadian Cancer Society in 1988. A Terry Fox statue and lookout was opened in 1982 in Thunder Bay, Ont., where Fox was forced to stop his run. There are also statues of Fox along his marathon route, commemorating his legacy.
