Terry Fox

[CarolineC]

Hi all,

For the last 3 years I have walked 10km in memory of such an inspirational, courageous young man who didn't say "it is what it is"; he had a goal and tried to fulfill it with determination and perseverance. Read his story on terryfox.org.

I also walk for all the people with all kinds of cancers and for the people who can't walk. When I signed up as one of Terry's Team which is for survivors, I said I didn't know if I qualified as a survivor because I was still going to need Herceptin indefinitely. I suppose I defined a survivor as someone who had done the treatment and was "cancer-free" for years.The caring woman on the phone responded "you're walking",(meaning you’re alive) and I thought "she's right-we're all survivors".

The first year I was towards the end of my Herceptin protocol and 1 1/2 years out of chemo. Last year I participated not knowing I had a sternal met. This year I am out of chemo again by 4 months and I had major breathlessness and swelling after Taxotere which have resolved (except for hills so I slow down) so I did a test 10k run last weekend that our town put on as part of a 40th year celebration. I walked/ran on a dirt trail through a forest and I'm still here. I think I'll try running abit more, especially if it's cool tomorrow; at least it will be on pavement. I used to run when I was young and it feels good. I keep thinking that if Terry Fox can run a marathon everyday for 143 days with an artificial leg, then I can do this.

I just thought I'd share my respect for this young man and the many others who make a difference.