Can it possibly be 40 years since Terry Fox captured our hearts in The Marathon of Hope? It feels like yesterday! I remember following his progress across Ontario. I remember the painful interview on September 1, 1980 when he announced he had to stop his run because cancer had returned, this time in his lungs. Courageously, he vowed he would be back to finish his run if he could. I remember the storm of tears when I learned a year later that he had died. And I remember my whole family circling Canatara Park in Sarnia as we participated in the very first Terry Fox Run in his honour almost 40 years ago.

I completed my 10 kilometres for Terry yesterday, (I’m on the road today) a small distance compared to his marathon a day for 143 days. Thankfully, not even a global pandemic can stop this yearly integral event. The name has changed to The Terry Fox Virtual Run, One Day, Your Way, giving each participant the chance to run or walk, hike or bike in the safety of their own neighbourhood or path of their choosing. Yesterday I decided to walk in my old leafy, lovely neighbourhood called The Beaches in Toronto. I have completed many Terry Fox Runs on this long stretch of stunning boardwalk and beach, and this year I needed to feel some sense of normal, a sense of safety, a sense of home. This year, unfortunately, sadly, I am participating in the honour of not only Terry, but a dear loved-one who recently lost their desperate fight against cancer.

This year I participated for my cousin Duane Chapman. Our family lost Duane just a week ago after a 2-year battle against the ravages of Lymphoma. Duane was a larger than life figure in the lives of all of us cousins. A strong yet gentle, fun-loving man, Duane would do anything for anybody. I loved him because he loved to visit with my Mum and Dad back in Forest when they were alive, exchanging stories with my Dad. He was curious about life and clearly loved it. He did not want to lose this battle with cancer! It was just a month ago that his sister, Brenda, organized us for a COVID-era drive-by birthday party for Duane where we lit up the small town of Bothwell with our mad horn-honking and waving. And all of us cousins circled around him virtually too, setting up a “Cousins” Facebook Group where we could chat with Duane and help keep his spirits up as he went through a series of treatments and rounds of endless sickness. You could tell the nights when Duane must have been scared when our phones would ding with a message from Duane. Usually one of the cousins would be awake and take up the conversation, helping Duane feel less alone in this endless battle. It has been a difficult and desperately quiet week since Duane passed. Our phones are now silent.

Terry was right. Somewhere the hurting MUST stop! The one way I can make a difference each year is to participate in The Terry Fox Run and raise funds for cancer research. I have created a fund-raising page and would dearly appreciate any support you can give. You can sponsor me here.

In return, allow me to share some photos I captured along my 10 km walk. I will also share some quotes from a moving new book published this year to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Terry’s Run called “Forever Terry: A Legacy in Letters.” Edited by Terry’s brother Darrell, this new book gathers heart-felt letters to and about Terry by Canadians who have been touched in some way by Terry. It is a quick and moving read that I highly recommend.

It was a lovely early fall day for a hike and I started in the quiet green of Glen Stewart Ravine, a glorious place to remind yourself about the wonder of nature in the midst of a hectic city.

Glen Stewart Ravine winds its way up to Kingston Road, another great Toronto neighbourhood.

The walk back down to Lake Ontario and the boardwalk is lined with lovely Beaches homes. I used to walk these hilly streets often when I lived here last and it felt like coming home.

“In those forty years since his gallant attempt to cross the country he loved on little more than one leg and a lot of faith, Terry’s journey has helped countless Canadians. It should come as no surprise that the significant funding raised through the Terry Fox Runs over the decades has had a major impact on cancer research and treatment. But perhaps even greater than the dollars and cents, Terry Fox has always represented something fundamentally important for Canadians. Terry represents hope. He could not be kept down, would not be intimidated by the task at hand, and demonstrated tremendous resolve in his attempt to run coast to coast for a cause bigger than himself. Cancer denied him the opportunity to dip his foot in the Pacific Ocean and complete his beautiful plan, but in reality, it was ‘mission accomplished’ in so many ways.”

Bobby Orr

Once down on the boardwalk I hiked east to one of my favourite Beaches institutions, the stunning RC Harris building, perched high overlooking Lake Ontario.

“Terry let us all feel like he belonged to us. Unselfish. Transparent. Altruistic. I am so grateful that I was alive to serve witness to this young man’s life.”

Jann Arden

I soon turned west and started my hike up the lovely Toronto Beaches Boardwalk. In the photos below you will see the building where I used to live. 300 square feet of pure bliss. I do miss falling asleep to the sound of waves and the call of seagulls.

“Participating in the Terry Fox Run is such a good way to keep his memory alive and to keep up the fight against cancer. But I think we can honour him in our day-to-day lives, too, by striving to do the best we can, always, and rising above any challenge we might face. By giving our best every day, we can embody the spirit of Terry Fox.”

Hayley Wickenheiser

The last stretch of my hike took me up Lee Avenue, back to Kingston Road and at last, back down through the Glen Stewart Ravine. Full circle! Note the owl that protects the awesome Beaches Branch Library, bright seasonal mums, street art in the form of the iconic Leuty Lifeguard Station, and a much-appreciated and brightly-painted bench where I could catch my breath and pack away a new read from a Little Free Library. I cannot say no to a Penguin Classic!

Throughout my hike I thought a lot about my cousin Duane and hoped that my walk would honour his memory in some small way. I was glad that my chosen path was quiet in the early morning. It allowed for some quiet tears to flow wrapped in the safe arms of Mother Nature. Here’s my route today, and my walk charted along the way to keep me motivated.

Thanks for following along on my Virtual Terry Fox Run (hike). If you would like to sponsor me and support cancer research, you can find my page here. Or participate in a virtual run where you live. It is a great way to get some fresh air and exercise!

I’m going to leave the last word to Terry. This is part of a letter he wrote to the BC division of the Canadian Cancer Society before his run.

“We need your help. The people in cancer clinics all over the world need people who believe in miracles. I’m not a dreamer, and I’m not saying that this will initiate any kind of definitive answer or cure to cancer, but I believe in miracles. I have to.”

Terry Fox