Sharing your memories about Terry Fox

There are certain events that have lasting effects on our lives. Personally important dates - such as weddings and births - are usually celebrated every year with cakes, flowers, greeting cards and the like. They're pretty difficult to forget (or be reminded of just before or after the special day).

Individuals and families also tend to remember other moments, whether or not they are marked on a calendar - such as the day we graduated from school or university, when a loved one passed away, a divorce decree was finalized or the date of a tragic accident.

And certain other events stand out more than others, whether they directly affected us or not. Many of us can recall where we were or what we were doing when Neil Armstrong first walked on the moon, the day President Kennedy was shot, Henderson scoring against the Russians, the moment Lady Diana married Prince Charles, or the events surrounding 9/11.

Our lives are marked by all of these special moments. And while particular dates seem pretty obvious in retrospect, perhaps not all special dates were so apparent when first being experienced.

For those that were around in 1980 (and no, that's not all of us), we probably heard about Terry Fox and his quest to run across Canada to raise funds and awareness for cancer research. Did we pay much heed to him at the time? Maybe, and maybe not.

The full impact of his quest was lost on many of us until after he was forced to end his Marathon of Hope in Ontario, never reaching his final destination of his home province of British Columbia. And that's not to negate the legacy Terry has on our lives, both personally and as Canadians. It's just that our memories of him didn't take on that special sort of significance until after he had passed us by.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of Terry's quest to run across Canada. And to highlight and commemorate Terry's travels through the Bay St. George area, the Georgian is running a series of articles about Terry's Marathon of Hope.

Starting in this edition, and running over the next few weeks, the Georgian is featuring stories from some of those who saw or met Terry while he was in the local area. And we also want to hear from you and what you remember about Terry's visit. Your memories are important and they should be shared with others - Terry's dream of raising awareness and funds for cancer research need not fade.

To submit or tell us your story about Terry, give us a call 643-4531, email editor@thegeorgian.ca, or drop into the Georgian office at 43 Main St., Stephenville. We certainly look forward to hearing from you.