Through my recent training with Mr. Fung Kam Hung, I can’t help relating his motivating experience to that of Terry Fox’s. For those who have not heard of the late Terry Fox, his inspiring life story has been dramatized for several times and his legacy lives on in the annual Terry Fox Run, the Marathon of Hope. I believe that there is a common ground for every great men, which is their strong belief in never giving up.
Terry Fox was an enthusiastic athlete and played all kinds of sports until his diagnosis of osteosarcoma. This dreadful cancer has led to his right leg being amputated in 1997, yet, he did not end up on the wheel chair. Even after he had lost his leg, he refused to regard himself as a disabled, but instead claimed to have found his life more “rewarding” as he spent the rest of his life in proving that people with disabilities can still lead a great life, and in raising funds for cancer research. Fox was determined to make an impact on the world, in a way to encourage others, be it a physically disabled person or a cancer patient.
In 1980, Fox embarked on a cross-Canada run (the Marathon of Hope) for the purpose of raising a dollar from each of Canada’s 24 millions population. He did not succeed at first because there were only few people making donations, but Fox was not discouraged by the bad news and insisted to keep on running. Fortunately, the situation got better and over 1000 corporations then made a donation after the continuous spread of his story. Although the spread of his cancer eventually forced him to end his quest after 143 days and 5,373 km, his efforts resulted in a lasting, worldwide legacy. The annual Terry Fox Run, first held in 1981, has grown to involve millions of participants in over 60 countries and is now the world’s largest one-day fundraiser for cancer research.
Nelson Mandela once said, ‘it always seems impossible until it’s done’. No one could imagine that Fox’s seemingly unrestrained plan would eventually succeed. However, Fox was not belated by what looked like a mission impossible. The seed he planted 30 years ago has grown up, and the Terry Fox Run has raised over $600 million in his name. In addition to this, his story has certainly helped redefine people’s views of disability. I agree that people could be physically challenged in different ways; but this should not define who you are since it is the inner strength of a person that could lead to great accomplishments.
Raymond Chak
Founder of Chak & Associates