| November 14 |  |
Editor says, what if Canadian hero Terry Fox had survived his marathon of hope to begin a new, cross-America run in 1985? Please note that the opinions expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect the views of the author(s).
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In 1985, running alongside the Potomac River in the bright November sunshine, brother Terry Fox completed his second "Marathon of Hope", an incredible cross-America run that would generate hundreds of millions of dollars of sponsorship funding for cancer research.
Marathon of Hope 2At the White House, Fox was greeted by the fortieth President of the United States, Ted Kennedy, his twenty-four year old son and Four Seasons' CEO Isadore Sharp who had pledged $10,000 to the marathon and challenged 999 other corporations to do the same.
"Terry Fox is like a meteor passing in the sky, one whose light travels beyond our view, yet still shines in the darkest night" said Sharp. 
Of course Kennedy Junior fully understood the meteor's moment of triumph. In 1973, when he was twelve, a form of bone cancer called osteosarcoma was diagnosed in his right leg. The leg was surgically amputated on November 17, 1973. On that same day his father had escorted Kennedy's cousin Kathleen Hartington Kennedy - the eldest child of Robert F. Kennedy - down the aisle at her wedding and rushed back to the hospital.
In Canada, the thirtieth annual run occurred on September 19, 2010. Since 1981, $550 million has been raised by 35 million participants in more than 40 countries around the world who have laced up for the event. Terry Fox is no longer with us, but across his beloved Canada, his light shines on.
Entry posted by Todayinah Editor
© Alternate Historian, 2004-.Story Tags
Permalinks: Post, Day. Browse Thread: Politicians Source: Wikipedia Labels: Terry Fox, Edward Kennedy, Cancer, Marathon, Hope. Editor says, Terrance Stanley "Terry" Fox CC OD, (July 28, 1958 - June 28, 1981) was a Canadian humanitarian, athlete, and cancer research activist. In 1980, with one leg having been amputated, he embarked on a cross-Canada run to raise money and awareness for cancer research. Although the spread of his cancer eventually forced him to end his quest after 143 days and 5,373 kilometres (3,339 mi), and ultimately cost him his life, his efforts resulted in a lasting, worldwide legacy. The annual Terry Fox Run, first held in 1981, has grown to involve millions of participants in over 60 countries and is now the world's largest one-day fundraiser for cancer research; over C$500 million has been raised in his name.
~ Even with the Chappaquiddick girl-drowner in the White House, this would have been nice.
Comment from Amanda Caron on Facebook: That would have been terrific! However if he did.. it might have not gotten as big as it did.
~ The ultimate sacrifice isn't always necessary in order to grab the world's attention. A living activist is a much more eloquent spokesperson than a dead one.
~ Major medical investment between this and Ted Kennedy's presidency. It'd be a very different 2010 around hospitals.
© Today in Alternate History, 2013-. All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
