New Olympic award named for Canadian Terry Fox, who died of cancer in 1981
By APFriday, December 11, 2009
Olympic award named for Canadian Terry Fox
OTTAWA — A new Olympic award, named for Canadian runner Terry Fox, will honor an athlete exemplifying courage, perseverance and humility at the Vancouver Games.
Olympic organizers announced the creation of the award on Friday.
The award will recognize the grit and determination shown by Fox during his 1980 cross-country marathon of hope.
Fox, who lost a leg to cancer at age 18, cut short his cross-country run near Thunder Bay, Ontario, after hobbling with an artificial leg some 3,150 miles.
He died of lung cancer in June 1981 at age 22. His example inspired the annual Terry Fox runs, which have raised $500 million for cancer research.
The athlete will be chosen by a panel that includes a member of the Fox family.
