Fred Fox, Terry Fox’s brother, speaks to students in grades 4 and 5 at Osoyoos Elementary School on Sept. 16 about Terry’s determination and spirit. Behind him is the restored Ford Econoline van that accompanied Terry on his 1980 Marathon of Hope. The visit was a special treat for the school, as this was the only time the van had visited a school in B.C. since it was restored last year. Photo by Paul Everest - Click on picture for larger image
OSOYOOS TIMES-September 23, 2009
By Paul Everest – Osoyoos Times
Ask some of the students in Ms. MacNaughton’s Grade 4/5 class at Osoyoos Elementary School about what they learned about Terry Fox on the afternoon of Sept. 16 and there’s no shortage of answers.
“He raised money for cancer research,” said one student.
“He ran a marathon every day,” said another.
“He had a dream to cure cancer.”
“He was an awesome role model.”
Some of the students said they didn’t know anything about Terry until his brother Fred came to the school that afternoon with the original van that accompanied Terry on his Marathon of Hope in 1980.
The visit was a special treat for the school, as this was the first time the van had visited a school in the province since it was restored in 2008.
Throughout the afternoon, students from all grades came out to the school’s parking lot to listen to Fred share stories about his brother’s incredible journey to raise money for cancer research.
“It didn’t come without hard work and dedication and never quitting.”
Fred told the students about how Terry never backed down from a challenge, whether it was being told he was too short to join his school’s basketball team in Grade 8, to improving his grades when he was getting Cs in Grade 5, to competing with his brother to see who could pick the most cherries.
The students also heard about how, when he was 18 years old, Terry got a sore knee which he thought was just an injury.
When he went to the doctor, Fred said, he learned it was cancer and his leg would be amputated.
“Terry took that as a challenge,” Fred said, adding that Terry was inspired by seeing all the young people around him at the hospital.
“He knew he had to make a difference.”
So, Fred said, Terry came up with the idea to run across Canada to fundraise for cancer research.
“Terry ran a marathon a day. It was never about Terry Fox. It was about why he was running. He wanted to set an example.”
Terry ran for 143 days and made it as far as Thunder Bay, Ont., before having to stop because he was ill, Fred told the students.
Before he passed away in June of 1981, Terry knew there would be an annual run inspired by his marathon to keep his dream of defeating cancer alive.
Terry “worked hard to be the best he could be,” Fred said, adding that the message he wanted to leave with the students was to follow Terry’s example and never give up.
After each group of classes listened to Fred’s stories, the students had the chance to check out the customized, beige Ford Econoline van with its interior wood panels and orange shag carpeting which provided support services to Terry during his run.
The van was restored by the Ford Motor Company last year and now belongs to the Terry Fox Foundation.
In 2008, it was taken across Canada in what was called the Tour of Hope.
Kris Sabourin, a school trustee for School District 51 (Boundary) who has organized the Boundary Terry Fox Run for the past 18 years, said the van’s visit to Osoyoos was its only public appearance at a school since it was restored.
Its next stop would be the Rock Creek Fair.
Having helped organize the van’s appearance at the fair, Sabourin asked Osoyoos Elementary School Principal Bo Macfarlane if he would be interested in having the van come to the school.
Macfarlane, who had worked with Sabourin’s husband at a Rock Creek school, jumped at the opportunity.
The spirit of Terry Fox was very much alive in Osoyoos before and after the visit of Fred and the van.
On Sept. 13, Sy Murseli led a group of people in a local run where $4,790 was raised for the Terry Fox Foundation.
And on Sept. 25, students at Osoyoos’s schools will take part in their own Terry Fox runs.
Standing aside, watching the students take a look at a part of history that happened before they were born, Fred shared a quiet remembrance of a conversation he had with his brother.
He recalled questioning why Terry would run across the country and the answer that revealed Terry’s special character.
“I remember saying ‘Why go?’” Fred said. “Terry replied, ‘Why not?’”
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