Terry Fox is recognized as a Canadian icon and hero, but to Fred Fox, Terry was his little brother.

B次元官网网址淭erry never would have never thought of himself as a hero,B次元官网网址� said Fred during a talk at Wishart elementary. B次元官网网址淚t wasnB次元官网网址檛 important for him to be famous. When he was running across Canada all he wanted to was help people.B次元官网网址�

Fred was 14 months older than Terry, and they were close friends, but Fred admits they did bicker sometimes. Abd while Terry became a household name, Fred said things didnB次元官网网址檛 come easy for his brother.

B次元官网网址淭erry was just like every other kid in this school,B次元官网网址� Fred said. B次元官网网址淗e was an average kid. He worked hard to overcome challenges even before he was diagnosed with cancer ... when he was diagnosed with cancer he had to continue working hard.B次元官网网址�

During FredB次元官网网址檚 school tour he made two stops in Greater Victoria, both at West Shore elementary schools B次元官网网址� Happy Valley and Wishart.

The Terry Fox Foundation asked Fred to visit the two schools due to their long-standing support for the Terry Fox run.

B次元官网网址淲e have had the Terry Fox Run since 1985, that is as old as some of the parents,B次元官网网址� said Wishart principal Raman McArthur.

Looking back a TerryB次元官网网址檚 old report cards, Fred said his brother rarely got a grade higher than a C+ and while Terry loved playing sports, he had to work hard at it. B次元官网网址淚 hear all the time, he must have been a great athlete,B次元官网网址� Fred said.

When Terry was in Grade 8 he decided to try out for basketball. He was possibly the smallest boy in the entire school.

B次元官网网址淭he coach said he was small and his skill level (wasnB次元官网网址檛 good enough). He said B次元官网网址榶ouB次元官网网址檒l sit on the bench all year,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Fred said.

Those words only encouraged Terry to work harder. Everyday before school, at lunch and after school Terry was on the court. Even after that hard work, Terry spent about 95 per cent of the season on the bench.

But by Grade 10 he was one the starting guards and was captain of the team. B次元官网网址淗e was never going to quit,B次元官网网址� Fred said.

In same fashion, Terry was able to make the junior varsity basketball team at Simon Fraser University in 1976, when all odds were against him there too.

By 1977 TerryB次元官网网址檚 knee began to hurt and eventually he couldnB次元官网网址檛 even walk on it. At the age of 18 he was told he had a type of bone cancer.

B次元官网网址淲e had no idea what cancer was,B次元官网网址� Fred said. B次元官网网址淗e was devastated and he cried. He was told in four days heB次元官网网址檇 have to have part of his right leg removed.

B次元官网网址淚 sat there as asked him B次元官网网址榃hy did this have to happen to you?B次元官网网址� Without hesitation Terry said B次元官网网址榃hy not me? IB次元官网网址檝e been told all my life I am not big enough, smart enough or strong enough. This is just one more thing I have to overcome.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

Within 10 days of losing his leg, Terry was fitted with a prosthetic and shortly after decided he wanted to run across the country to raise money for cancer research.

He began his run in April, 1980 in St. JohnB次元官网网址檚, N.L. In September of that year, Terry had to stop because the cancer had spread to his lungs. He made it to Thunder Bay, Ont. He died June 28, 1981.

B次元官网网址淗e ran a marathon almost everyday for 143 days,B次元官网网址� Fred said. B次元官网网址淚 am inspired by my brother in every way. He inspires me everyday.B次元官网网址�

Wishart school raised $650 in toonies and presented it to Fred during a school assembly on Sept. 30.

B次元官网网址淚t has inspired me so much that the students are continuing what Terry started,B次元官网网址� Fred said. B次元官网网址淭erry couldnB次元官网网址檛 have imagined that people would be doing this 30 years later.B次元官网网址�

reporter@goldstreamgazette.com