Throughout Canadian history there have been many difficult times for many different people, and how these situations are dealt with is what defines us as individuals. However, in April 1980 Canadians and the world for that matter witnessed one of the most self-less, determined, proud individual whose spirit inspired millions. The person who I am undoubtedly speaking of is Terry Fox. Terry had a passion for life, and it was this passion which gave millions of others hope.
             Terry Fox was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and raised in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, a community near Vancouver on Canada's west coast. An active teenager involved in many sports, Terry was only eighteen years old when he was diagnosed with osteogenic sarcoma, bone cancer and forced to have his right leg amputated fifteen centimetres above the knee in 1977. While in hospital, Terry was so overcome by the suffering of other cancer patients, many of them young children that he decided to run across Canada to raise money and awareness for cancer research. Terry went through fourteen months of training to be able to run the long distances. Terry then presented his story to the Canadian Cancer Society, who agreed to sponsor his run across Canada to promote cancer awareness.
             On April 12, 1980, a very persistent and determined Canadian dipped his artificial leg into the Atlantic Ocean and set out on his Marathon of Hope: a run that lasted 143 days covering 5,373 kilometres of Canada's terrain. Terry started his run in St. John's, Newfoundland with little support. Although it was difficult to gather attention in the beginning, Terry stayed determined and proud. Enthusiasm soon grew, and the money collected along his route began to mount. Terry's begging goal was one million dollars, but he thought why couldn't everybody just donate one dollar and raise twenty three million dollars. The money started to come from
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