When Terry Fox threw out the first pitch
It was August 31st, 1980. Somewhere outside Thunder Bay, Ontario. The sun had only just started to rise. A family of five, returning home from a road to BC, had decided to get an early start after spending the night on the highway. Early into their journey, a clip-clopping sound was heard off in the distance. As it drew closer, a figure emerged, outlined by the sun's early morning rays.
A man, with one-leg on a marathon of hope. Terry Fox. Stunned and awed by what they say, that family of five gave him what they had before continuing on their journey to Toronto. It was his last full of day on the road.
Terry Fox may have had a quiet, inauspicious end to his run, but there were some big moments too.
Six weeks prior to that fateful day outside Thunder Bay, he arrived in Toronto to much fanfare. Upon reaching Nathan Phillips square he was greeted by NHL legends Darryl Sittler and Bobby Orr. He always was a hockey fan.
Fox loved all sports though and on the night of his arrival in Toronto, he got to partake in a special rite of passage, throwing out a first pitch at a major league baseball game. Specifically the Toronto Blue Jays versus the Cleveland Indians at Exhibition Stadium.
It turned out to be a very big deal. He was escorted to the mound by BJ Birdy, the Blue Jays mascot at the time, and received a standing ovation from the crowd. Apparently he had quite a good arm too.
The Blue Jays, because inspired by Fox, won the game 6-3.
While first pitches by celebrities, local heroes, and even kids are common through baseball, very rarely has some been greeted on the level that Fox was.
Years later, in 2004, long after Fox's passing, CBC was holding a contest to determine the greatest Canadian of all time. While its methodology and results were criticised by some, no one said a bad word when Terry Fox found himself in the top ten.
Public pitches were made by other famous Canadians. The advocate for Terry Fox was broadcaster and filmmaker Sook-Yin Lee. Even though I was still in high school, I was squarely on Team Fox.
Terry Fox ended up coming in 2nd place. He finished ahead of former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, before losing out to Tommy Douglas, the founder of Canada's National healthcare system.
Although Fox wasn't ultimately crowned champion, it was noted that the three youngest demographics chose him over the candidates. Perhaps if the show and voting were re-done today, he would be at the top.
Fox will soon be fitted with another honour. One even more rare than throwing out a first pitch. He is going on money.
Yes, the federal government has announced that the Canadian hero and icon will be the new face of the $5 bill He replaces Wilfred Laurier, who moves over to the fifty.
The government has said it did that to inspire more people to donate $5 to Terry's cause.
Close to $1 billion dollars By February of 1981, he already raised $1 for every Canadian. On that fateful day in Toronto the Canadian cancer society received over $100 000 in donations alone. Bobby Orr personally presented him with a check for $25 000.
Terry Fox runs are now held in more than 30 countries worldwide. Many have partaken including yours truly.
But what of that road-tripping family of five? A mother, a father, and their three children. Well, they made it to the big city and carried on with their lives, forever remembering the image of Terry in the early morning on highway one. Eight years later, the three children in that car got a surprise when they told they were getting a new sibling. Their mother and stepfather were finally able to conceive, after several years of trying. That child is currently writing this article, telling you the story his family's brush with greatness.
The Terry Fox Foundation is still active to this day, and continues to raise awareness for and support groundbreaking research. Even major league baseball has gotten in on the cancer-funding efforts.
Every year at the All-star game, the league holds a Stand-up To Cancer rally. During the 2022 edition, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and reporter Ken Rosenthal held signs for Buck Martinez and Jamie Campbell, two Blue Jays broadcasters who were going through their own cancer battles.
Events like that aren't possible without Terry Fox.
Terry Fox may be gone, but will his legacy will go on forever. Whether or not they are Canadian, young or old, everyone knows somebody affected by cancer. In a world divided, Terry brought everyone closer together.
A true Canadian icon will now be a little closer to us all. With Terry Fox now the face of Canadian currency, perhaps he will inspire the generations yet-to-come and the heroes of tomorrow.
Maybe even throw out a first pitch.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 17 | 129 ANSWERS When Terry Fox threw out the first pitch Is Terry Fox the greatest Canadian? | ||
| Yes | 98 | 76 % |
| No | 31 | 24 % |
| List of polls | ||
