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www. insidehalton.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, August 31, 2017 | 6 by David Lea Oakville Beaver Staff Fred Fox reveals lesser known facts about Terry’s run He was someone who never quit, and took every statement that he should quit as a challenge. That is one of the things Fred Fox says he remembers most about his younger brother Canadian icon Terry Fox. Fred stopped by Oakville’s Sixteen Mile Sports Complex last Thursday (Aug. 24) to speak to a small group of students about his brother's message and the importance of the Terry Fox Run, which will be held at Oakville’s Coronation Park on Sept. 17. The Maple Ridge, B.C., resident said it was appropriate he was addressing these youths at a sports complex as sports — including basketball, others — had been such an important part of Terry’ life. While Terry Fox’s legend may now be larger than life, Fred said, Terry himself definitely didn’t start out that way. ‘Terry was just an average kid, an average ti People at the rehab centre said they were SO amazed. They had never seen anyone like Terry Fox. Fred Fox athlete... Terry typically was the smallest kid on the soccer pitch, on the baseball field, on the basketball floor,” said Fred. “I remember him trying out for the Grade 8 basketball team. He practiced for two weeks and the coach would pull Terry aside Fred Fox, older brother of Canadian icon Terry Fox, speaks at the Sixteen Mile Sports complex as part of the lead up to the Oakville Terry Fox Run on Sept. 17. and say, ‘You're probably going to sit on the bench and watch your buddies play. You're not very tall, your skill is not quite where we need it to be. Maybe cross-country or wrestling would be more suitable for you. Terry took that as a challenge.” Terry began practicing his basketball skills relentlessly and never quit the team despite only being allowed to play a few minutes here and there when the score got out of teach, By the time Terry got to Grade 10 his brother said Terry had improved to the point that he was one of the starting guards and the captain of the team. “That came out of sheer hard work and determination,” said Fred. “That's just the way Terry was.” Fred said Terry showed that same determination a few years later when at age 18 Terry was diagnosed with cancer. ven when Terry received the news that doctors would need to amputate part of his right leg he took that challenge head on. “Within 10 days of the operation Terry was fitted with an artificial leg and leaning how to walk all over again. Nothing was going to stop Terry,” said Fred. “People at the rehab centre said they were amazed. They had never seen anyone like Terry Fox — smeone who was just so determined to get on with it.” As chemotherapy treatment began, Fred said, Terry quickly realized not much was being done with regard to cancer research. Terry driven by experiences at cancer clinics Fred said for Terry the need to do something was driven home by the experiences Terry had at those cancer clinics where he would make friends with people undergoing the same struggle he was going through. He would return days later to visit these people only to find they had passed away. In 1979 about two years after his diagnosis | Nikki Wesley/Metroland Terry started to run, telling his family that he was training for the Vancouver Marathon. When he did announce his plans for his cross-country Marathon of Hope his mother initially didn’t take the news well. “Our mom got very mad. She said, ‘Why would you do that? Run from the Alberta/ B.C. border and finish in Stanley Park.” said Fred. “Terry said, ‘Mom not only people in B.C. set cancer. I've got tostartin Newfoundland.” red said he didn’t really grasp the enormity of what his brother was doing, telling him simply, “That's awesome Terry. Tl see you when you get back. On April 7, 1980, Terry began his run across Canada, passing through Oakville on July 13. The first time Fred saw his brother run was on the 6 p.m. news. He ultimately went to Toronto and saw Terry run in person and even ran with him on July 11 down see Fred on p. 14 ntario Press Council Deeg pe pes a at Vice-President and Group Publisher nce fe 5046 Mainway, Unit 2, Burington (905) 845-3824 pai ments of Metroland West peer ‘on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that pron of | Neil Olive by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allow ‘ignat Regoral General Manager Kelly Mont is p / 289-293-0614 or decline. Ei i by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. rector Daniel Baird / dbaird@metroland.com / 289-293-0624 Managing Editor Angela Blackburn v scoroshietene com / 289-293-0617 Director of Di Charlene Hall / outed com / 905-631-6095