Terry Fox's Contribution to the Research for Cancer Treatment Paper Example

Introduction

Every year, on the second Sunday after Labour Day, a non-competitive charity event is held in various places in the world in memory of Canadian cancer activist, Terry Fox and his Marathon of Hope. The charity event, where participants run, walk, ride or roll; is used to raise funds to be used in the research of cancer treatment - a goal which Terry Fox, who had one of his legs cut from the knee due to cancer, had when he commenced on a run through Canada from the east to the west in 1980 (Chivers, 2009).

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Terry Fox has not only been an inspiration for others 30 years after his death in 1981 but has also brought the world together in supporting cancer research. More than C$750 million (US$ 561 million) has been raised in his name since then. His legacy and determination made him a Canadian hero and also led to the establishment of the Terry Fox Foundation for Cancer Research, which seeks to rid the world of cancer.

Thesis Statement

This paper will highlight the life of Terry Fox, not only as a victim of cancer but as a hero both in his home country of Canada and of the world. His efforts were inspired when he realized how there were very little funding efforts towards cancer research and how many people died each day because of cancer. Because of this realization Fox embarked on his Marathon of Hope, which shall be discussed in this paper, where he sought to raise cancer awareness as well as improve funding towards cancer research. This paper will also highlight the impact that Terry Fox had in changing the world's mentality towards disabled persons as well as cancer and its treatment, in hopes of finding a cure and increasing the survival rate of cancer victims.

Cancer Diagnosis

Terry Fox's journey started in March 1977 when he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a type of cancer of the bones that often begins at the knees, which then led to his leg being amputated 15 centimeters above the knee. In addition to the amputation, doctors told Fox that he would need to undergo chemotherapy treatment, adding that he had a 50 percent chance of survival. Following the amputation, Fox was given a prosthetic leg and underwent 16 months of chemotherapy treatment.

While receiving treatment, Fox became aware that only two years before, the rate of osteosarcoma survival was only 15 percent and because of cancer research, the rate of survival drastically improved. Because of this revelation, as well as the completion of his treatment at the British Columbia Cancer Control Agency facility, he felt that his survival was indebted to the advances in cancer research (Scrivener, 2000). This then inspired him to be a beacon of hope to others.

Even after being diagnosed with cancer and having his leg amputated, Terry Fox was a strong-willed, tenacious, and positive thinker. Despite his condition, in the summer of 1977, Fox, upon the request of Rick Hansen who was working with the Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association, joined the wheelchair basketball team. From an early age, Fox was very interested in sports and during his childhood, he participated in various sports such as basketball and athletics.

Fox's dedication and energy for wheelchair basketball, despite still undergoing chemotherapy, impressed Hansen and in less than two months after joining, Fox was named a member of the national championship team in Edmonton. Fox went ahead and won three national titles with the team; and in 1980, he was named an all-star by the North American Basketball Association (Scrivener, 2000).

The Marathon of Hope

The Marathon of Hope, which later became Terry Fox's biggest and renowned legacy, started off through an inspirational article that he read the night before his leg was amputated. Fox's basketball coach brought him an article that featured Dick Traum who was an amputee and had run in the New York City Marathon. Traum's story inspired Fox, who started dreaming of running in a marathon. Fox observed with great difficulty the suffering that other cancer patients went through and how the disease had reduced the patients to shells of their former selves.

This observation as well as the realization that cancer research did not get as much funding as he had previously believed, Fox decided that he would run to raise funds dedicated to cancer research. He revealed his plans to his family and best friend, Douglas Alward that he would run the full length of Canada and raise awareness on cancer. With that, he began a 14-month training program in readiness for the marathon.

The training was painful, especially on his right amputated leg, as the additional pressure he placed on his good leg led to bruises and blisters which gave him intense pain. He, however, did not stop training and on 2nd September 1979, Fox finished a 17-mile road race in Prince George, British Colombia and although he finished last, his endeavors were met with applause and tears from other athletes in the race.

Following the race and his decision of running in support of cancer research, Fox wrote a letter to the Canadian Cancer Society revealing his plan and appealed for funding. In his letter, Fox described the ordeal he went through during his chemotherapy treatment and the anguish he saw in other patients as well. He then explained his intentions of raising awareness as well as sourcing for funding to be used in cancer research. Despite being skeptical of his goal and dedication, the Canadian Cancer Society agreed to support him once he got sponsors and a medical certificate showing that he was fit to run (Scrivener, 2000).

Fox's medical certificate indicated that he had left ventricular hypertrophy (an enlarged heart) and was warned of the potential risks he might face. Fox then got his medical endorsement after promising that he would stop running once he started to have heart problems. Fox then embarked on finding sponsors for his run and he wrote to several companies requesting for a vehicle and running shoes as well as other costs of the run. However, Fox turned down any endorsement offers as he only wanted to focus on his goal of raising cancer awareness as well as funding for research (Murphy, 2005).

Once everything was in pace, Fox started his run across Canada on 12th April 1980 with an initial target of raising C$1 million. He then raised this target to C$10 million and finally resorted to raising C$1 from each of the 24 million people living in Canada. Fox set a brutal pace for himself, running an average of 40 kilometers a day using his hopping gait style of running.

Fox ran through adverse weather conditions from hot summers to freezing winters and although a majority of the time Fox ran alone with his van following him from behind, with each mile he covered, his support grew as so did the donations. He soon became a national hero and caught the attention of Isadore Sharp who had lost his son to cancer in 1978. As a result of being intrigued by Fox's determination of doing the impossible, Sharp, who was also the Founder and CEO of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, offered food and accommodation to Fox at his hotels en route. As he continued his run, Fox started to become discouraged that donations were not coming in as he had initially expected; as a result, Sharp pledged to donate C$2 for each mile that Fox covers and asked close to 1,000 other corporations to pledge the same (Coupland, 2005).

Running the marathon had its effect on Fox's body, more so because he refused to take a day off from running. As a result, Fox often suffered shin splints and developed cysts on his stump and soreness in his ankle. He also had an inflamed knee and would experience dizzy spells from time to time. Due to his stubborn nature, Fox dismissed medical check-ups that he was regularly called to do; however, on 1st September 1980 - 143 days and 5,373 kilometers (3,339 miles) later - he was forced to end his run after suffering from an intense cough and pain in his chest. Medical tests later revealed that his cancer has resurfaced in his lungs (Coupland, 2005).

While undergoing treatment for cancer that was now in his lungs, Fox was still determined in getting better and completing the rest of his run. He even refused offers form people willing to complete the run for him saying that he would finish it himself. Unfortunately, the treatments he was being given were unsuccessful and Fox passed away on 28th June 1981 (MacDonald, 2011). By the time he abandoned his run, Fox had raised C$1.7 million; however, after a week, the CTV Television network organized nationwide fundraising where donations amounted to C$23 million. The proceeds were used to establish a foundation under Fox's name as well as support research at the Ontario Cancer Treatment and Research Foundation.

Terry Fox's Legacy: Why He was a Hero

Even after his death, Terry Fox left a great legacy behind not only in Canada but worldwide. His effort and determination united people in the world to join his cause of fighting cancer and finding a cure for it. In Canada, he is considered as their greatest hero and this is shown through the various awards he received following his selfless contributions. He was awarded both the Order of Canada and the Order of the Dogwood, among many other recognitions nationwide and globally. His most appealing characteristic to the world was his determination in overcoming challenges despite the lonely path he chose to walk in (Trottier, 2010).

He was considered a hero because he was compassionate, committed and he showed perseverance - three qualities which are considered as the most cherished values of the Canadian people. Because of his determination, the survival rates of patients with osteosarcoma in Canada drastically improved since his death. Patients now have access to limb-sparing or limb-reconstructive surgeries and the rate for recession is now almost at 80 percent for younger patients, while for older patients it is 70 percent.

In addition to efforts towards cancer, Terry fox also made significant strides in how people perceived those with disabilities. During his run, Fox refused to be viewed as a disabled person and he did not allow anyone to feel pity for him. His story resulted in the people accepting those who were disabled and include them in society by focusing on their abilities instead of their disabilities. The same applied to those who were disabled as well as they started viewing at things differently - that they too can make a difference even in their disability (Brown, 1997).

Through the determination that Fox had in his run, Isadore Sharp who was the founder of the Four Seasons Hotels was inspired to create an annual fundraising event where participants would run in Fox's name and contribute towards cancer research. Fox agreed to this proposal only asking that they should not be competitive in nature. To this day, there is an annual run called the Terry Fox run where people join in and participate and also raise funds for cancer research. More than three million people take part in the run each year and more than C$750 million has been contributed so far, with the grants from the Terry Fox Foundation (who organize the run annually) being used to help scientists in Canada make progress in cancer research. This year will mark the 39th Terry Fox Run.

Conclusion

Terry Fox's contribution to the research for cancer treatment is not only felt in his home country of Canada but globally as well. Through the Terry Fox Foundation, the foundation that was named after him; proceeds collected each year across the globe go towards the research for the treatment of cancer. A lot of progress has been made so far in finding a cure for osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer, one which Terry Fox had.

Two years before he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, the survival rate was about 15 percent. During his treatment, the survival rate while undergoing chemotherapy and a po...