28th of July 1958 born a unparallel legend on this mother earth. Terry Fox of Canada. In 1980, he lost his right leg to cancer, Above Knee amputation.
Cancer and amputation became his strength, when in 1981, he embarked upon the journey of running across Canada to raise awareness against Cancer. He ran continuously for 143 days and covered 5373 km by doing 42 km every day and named it “Marathon of Hope”.
He could not continue further as cancer has spread to his lungs and took away his life ultimately, 9 months later.
But his dream of collecting 1 dollar from each Canadian, in total 24 million ( as per the then population) came true.
Other than many, he was awarded with ‘Order of Canada’ and is now an icon of hope around the world.
People around the world run under ‘Terry Fox run’ and collect aid to fund research work of Cancer.
He, is my role model as it is the same style of running I used when in 2009 I ran my first half marathon. Almost the same limb and not the Blade.
Many amputees are under the impression that Blade will make them run. Well, there was no Blade during Fox’s time. And I found running with Blade is not as easy as with normal artificial leg, ofcourse the style differs. Net result is, running or anything is not aided by external factors but your own will power and desires.
Change is not because of external things, Change is within.
I was lucky, when in 2014, Pravasi Media group ( thank you Mr Rajinder Saini for the honour) of Ontario region invited me there to take part in main Terry Fox run.
What more could I have asked than to get the opportunity of taking blessings of father of this Legend, Mr Rolly Fox.
I, later ran with Mr John Torry, Mayor and Premier of Ontario, Ms Kathleen Wynne ( she herself is a fantastic runner). Yes, Tiranga was kept high and flying there too 🙂
Let each one of us get such passionate desire to bring change by our action and not wait for any external factor to do so.
Change is within.
Long live Terry Fox and his spirit. Long live Humanity.
Jai hind
