Fox continues to inspire 25 years after his death
Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 1:00 pm
Man on man, I still can not believe it has been 25 years. I still remember his death like it was yesterday. I was in Kamloops with my brother at our Nana's place and it came across the radio and it was a shock as so many followed Terry's run. I was 13 at the time and I was in tears, actually we all were, it was a sad day.Somewhere in Canada today a man will be sitting alone and remembering a curly-haired, one legged young runner who changed his life.
In Canada today, on the 25th anniversary of Terry Fox's death, there are actually a lot of people thinking about how the kid from B.C. changed a lot of people's lives.
For Bill Vigars, it's extra personal.
"Every year I go somewhere and have a little visit with him," he said yesterday, fighting emotion which always takes over when he talks about the Marathon of Hope.
In showbiz circles a lot of people know Vigars, now 59, for being one of the country's most connected film publicists. He worked on the shows Night Heat, Corner Gas and Godivas.
"I was working for the Canadian Cancer Society and someone sent me a note saying there is a kid with one leg trying to run across Canada, see what you can do for him."
"In those days we measured distance in miles and I can tell you, he ran never less than 17 miles in a day," Vigars said. "Usually it was 26 miles. He'd bleed from his stump and the wear and tear on him was enormous. He'd just keep going. He was so determined."
Terry was magical. Terry was bigger than life. Soon they found out Terry was just a man.
Just before Terry died Vigars made him a promise "I will make you live forever." Bill is sure Terry will.
"I actually didn't have to do anything to make him live forever because it's the people of Canada and the people of the world who have done that."
Fox's journey will be documented at 8 p.m. tonight on the A-Channel in the award-winning Terry Fox Remembered.
But his dream is still very much alive and I bet he would be very happy to see what he accomplished and how many lives he touched.
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