“Whatever you believe and conceive, through persistence you must achieve.”
The story of Terry Fox’s courageous Marathon of Hope is an excellent example of the importance of establishing a clear vision of what you want to achieve and practicing persistence in pursuit of one’s goals.
Terry was eighteen when he was diagnosed with bone cancer. In spite of the physical and emotional challenges he encountered during his medical treatments and his leg amputation, Terry drew upon the compassion he felt for his fellow cancer patients and created a vision, the Marathon of Hope. He planned to run across Canada to raise funds for cancer research. He trained with courage and persistence for eighteen months and began with little fanfare on April 12, 1980, in St John’s, Newfoundland.
Terry’s vision became a reality as he ran with persistence forty-two kilometers daily through the Atlantic provinces, Quebec and Ontario. The further he ran, the more awareness he generated in the communities he passed through. Cancer research donations increased dramatically. Terry succeeded in running 5,373 K in 143 days before he had to cancel his quest in Thunder Bay, Ontario because the cancer had spread to his lungs.
Terry passed away on June 28, 1981, at the age of 22, but his legacy continues to this day. Every year people from communities across Canada and in many places throughout the world participate in the Terry Fox Run. Over $650 million has been raised for cancer research.
Terry’s courageous pursuit sets an example for all of us that we can create a vision of what we want in our life, take on any challenge we encounter along the way, and through persistence, achieve success.
