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charlene · 10-30-2009, 05:48 PM

a wonderful tribute to the Olympic ideal of sport and amateur athletes. Terry was a B.C. boy and his mum/brother/dad should be allowed this honour. They have kept his legacy and Marathon of Hope runs to raise money for cancer research alive since Terry died in 1981.

http://www.ctvolympics.ca/news-centre/newsid=17118.html

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=112773030437

A torch for Terry Fox
The Globe and Mail
By Marsha Lederman, The Globe and Mail Posted Thursday, October 8, 2009 10:10 AM ET

VANCOUVER - When the Olympic flame is lit at B.C. Place on Feb. 12, 2010, tens of thousands of people would like that final torchbearer to be Betty Fox.

An online campaign, "Terry Fox's mother to light the flame at the 2010 Olympics," has been picking up steam this week, growing overnight from about 42,000 members on Tuesday to more than 76,500 by yesterday afternoon.

"We're hoping we'll have a quarter million by the time the Olympics roll around," said Mike Sveinson, who administers the Facebook group from Thunder Bay.

"It's being done in Vancouver, which would have been the destination for Terry. He would have ended there. So to have Betty light it in Vancouver is kind of completing the marathon in a way," said Mr. Sveinson, whose own mother died of cancer on his 30th birthday three years ago.

Mrs. Fox is aware of the campaign, but said she's not following it closely.

Still, she seemed to get a kick out of the news yesterday that so many people had joined.

"I'm very honoured and very proud to think that those people feel that way."

She said she has not been approached by Olympic officials, and wonders whether she'd physically even be able to do it.

"I've got arthritis pretty bad in my spine and it goes down into my hip, so it kind of hurts to even walk fast. But maybe I'll get rid of it if I did get out and practice - if I'm anything like my one son was."

Mr. Fox, who grew up in Port Coquitlam, B.C., was diagnosed with bone cancer when he was 18 and had his right leg amputated above the knee.

Three years later, in 1980, he set out on his Marathon of Hope. His intention was to run across the country to raise money for cancer research. But after 143 days, he had to stop outside Thunder Bay due to deteriorating health. He died the next year, at 22.

Lisa Freeman Evans remembers being about 11 and watching the news report saying Mr. Fox had been forced to end his run. "I sobbed. It was devastating when he had to quit."

Ms. Freeman Evans joined the Facebook group when it had just 40 members, and now helps run it.

"I think Terry Fox is in every sense of the word a true hero. I think he represents what the true Olympic spirit is about. And I think that Betty Fox is the most recognized association to Terry," she said. "Terry can't be here and I think that she would be the perfect representation."

Members of the Facebook group have e-mailed VANOC, urging Olympic organizers to consider Mrs. Fox.

What would her son have thought of the idea?

"I think he'd laugh like heck," Mrs. Fox said. "I can just imagine him playing the part of me trying to go up the stairs.

"I know a couple of my sons every once in a while [will joke], 'Have you started practising yet?' But they're just smart-asses."

Other names have been proposed for the final Olympic torchbearer, including retired hockey player Trevor Linden, wheelchair athlete and activist Rick Hansen, and Doug Alward, who accompanied Mr. Fox during the Marathon of Hope. There are even campaigns promoting the idea of Mr. Hansen and Mrs. Fox lighting the flame together.

But Ms. Freeman Evans has her heart set on Mrs. Fox. "I don't think you can ignore almost 77,000 people," she said.

"I think she's the only choice."

10-30-2009, 05:48 PM	#1
charlene Moderator Join Date: May 2000 Posts: 16,001	Terry Fox honour at 2010 Vancouver Olympics a wonderful tribute to the Olympic ideal of sport and amateur athletes. Terry was a B.C. boy and his mum/brother/dad should be allowed this honour. They have kept his legacy and Marathon of Hope runs to raise money for cancer research alive since Terry died in 1981. http://www.ctvolympics.ca/news-centre/newsid=17118.html http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=112773030437 A torch for Terry Fox The Globe and Mail By Marsha Lederman, The Globe and Mail Posted Thursday, October 8, 2009 10:10 AM ET VANCOUVER - When the Olympic flame is lit at B.C. Place on Feb. 12, 2010, tens of thousands of people would like that final torchbearer to be Betty Fox. An online campaign, "Terry Fox's mother to light the flame at the 2010 Olympics," has been picking up steam this week, growing overnight from about 42,000 members on Tuesday to more than 76,500 by yesterday afternoon. "We're hoping we'll have a quarter million by the time the Olympics roll around," said Mike Sveinson, who administers the Facebook group from Thunder Bay. "It's being done in Vancouver, which would have been the destination for Terry. He would have ended there. So to have Betty light it in Vancouver is kind of completing the marathon in a way," said Mr. Sveinson, whose own mother died of cancer on his 30th birthday three years ago. Mrs. Fox is aware of the campaign, but said she's not following it closely. Still, she seemed to get a kick out of the news yesterday that so many people had joined. "I'm very honoured and very proud to think that those people feel that way." She said she has not been approached by Olympic officials, and wonders whether she'd physically even be able to do it. "I've got arthritis pretty bad in my spine and it goes down into my hip, so it kind of hurts to even walk fast. But maybe I'll get rid of it if I did get out and practice - if I'm anything like my one son was." Mr. Fox, who grew up in Port Coquitlam, B.C., was diagnosed with bone cancer when he was 18 and had his right leg amputated above the knee. Three years later, in 1980, he set out on his Marathon of Hope. His intention was to run across the country to raise money for cancer research. But after 143 days, he had to stop outside Thunder Bay due to deteriorating health. He died the next year, at 22. Lisa Freeman Evans remembers being about 11 and watching the news report saying Mr. Fox had been forced to end his run. "I sobbed. It was devastating when he had to quit." Ms. Freeman Evans joined the Facebook group when it had just 40 members, and now helps run it. "I think Terry Fox is in every sense of the word a true hero. I think he represents what the true Olympic spirit is about. And I think that Betty Fox is the most recognized association to Terry," she said. "Terry can't be here and I think that she would be the perfect representation." Members of the Facebook group have e-mailed VANOC, urging Olympic organizers to consider Mrs. Fox. What would her son have thought of the idea? "I think he'd laugh like heck," Mrs. Fox said. "I can just imagine him playing the part of me trying to go up the stairs. "I know a couple of my sons every once in a while [will joke], 'Have you started practising yet?' But they're just smart-asses." Other names have been proposed for the final Olympic torchbearer, including retired hockey player Trevor Linden, wheelchair athlete and activist Rick Hansen, and Doug Alward, who accompanied Mr. Fox during the Marathon of Hope. There are even campaigns promoting the idea of Mr. Hansen and Mrs. Fox lighting the flame together. But Ms. Freeman Evans has her heart set on Mrs. Fox. "I don't think you can ignore almost 77,000 people," she said. "I think she's the only choice."