PROFILES

"She got over the hurt, and became the face of Terry Fox's legacy"

- Isadore Sharp

 
Betty Fox
Raising $500 Million for Cancer Research

By The Ambassadors Research Staff

Betty Fox was the mother of Terry Fox, who died of metastatic osteogenic sarcoma on 28 June 1981 at the age of 22. Her son was diagnosed with cancer in March 1977, when he was only 18 - an undergraduate at Simon Fraser University and avid athlete. He was the founder of the Marathon of Hope Cross-country Run in Aid of Cancer Research. His heroic attempt to run across Canada on one leg stayed in the forefront of people's minds. He died knowing he had raised $24 million for cancer research - $1 for every person living in Canada at that time. After Terry's death, Canadian prime minister Pierre Trudeau said in the House of Commons, "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 don't 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."

Terry became an icon of hope and courage around the world.

Betty's strength and outspokenness became key ingredients to the success of her son's campaign against cancer. "She got over the hurt" and became the face of Terry Fox's legacy.

She was very sensitive to what would have been terry's wishes and what he set out to do, which was raising money for cancer research. Terry represents something everyone identifies with. the courage and desire to help others when they saw him running across the country to collect money for a cause that is dear to all. "I'm going to run until I cant," he said. He took cancer out of the closet. He always presented himself with his leg exposed. Terry Fox ended his run in September 1980 in Thunder B ay Ontario and was buried in Port Coquitlam, BC in July 1981. In 1983, in Ottawa, Canada unveiled a bronze sculpture of Terry Fox in front of the Parliament.

Since then, his mother has protected his memory, kept his legacy alive and pure, championed the annual Terry Fox Run that has raised more than $500 million for cancer research in the last 30 years. The first of these Runs took place on 13 September 1981. At the opening ceremony of the Vancouver Winter Olympics in 2010, Betty Fox, she donned a white suit to help carry in the Canadian flag to represent her son's place in the hearts of Canadians. She walked across BC Place stadium with her husband carrying the Paralympics torch to ignite the flame that officially opened those Games. She told reporters, "Carrying the flame meant so much to both of us because we were carrying it for Terry, not for us or our family, but for our son. I have to say I know Terry is watching, and he would be so proud of all these athletes for the Paralympics," she told reporters.

Betty Fox visited many communities to open Terry Fox schools, playgrounds and to unveil statues in her son's memory. She was a natural public speaker who travelled thousands of kilometers a year on behalf of the Run and her son's legacy.

Betty Fox died last July 2011 in her early 70's, having suffered diabetes, arthritis and other illnesses.