Government of Canada
launches
“What Terry Fox means to me” challenge
for young Canadians
Youth invited to participate
in the design of Terry Fox
Marathon of Hope Mile ‘0’ Memorial Site
Ottawa, Ontario,
September 30, 2010 –
Member of Parliament for London West, Mr. Ed Holder, on
behalf of the Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of the
Environment and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, in
partnership with the Terry Fox Foundation, today launched
the “What Terry Fox means to me” challenge, which
invites young Canadians to express how a great Canadian hero
and his legacy inspires them.
“Over thirty years ago Terry Fox was inspired by the courage
of cancer patients, many of them young children, to run his
Marathon of Hope,” said Mr. Holder. “The legacy of Terry Fox
continues to resonate with Canadians and today, through the
“What Terry Fox means to me” challenge, we are inviting and
encouraging young Canadians to share their thoughts and
ideas with other Canadians on the legacy left by Terry Fox
and his Marathon of Hope.”
Organized by Parks Canada in partnership with the Terry Fox
Foundation, the “What Terry Fox means to me”
challenge is divided into two components. First, young
Canadians are invited to submit a quote or an idea of what
Terry Fox means to them as Canadian youth. Two quotes (one
English and one French) will be chosen from the submitted
entries. Second, young Canadians are invited to submit a
design concept which shows their interpretation of the route
Terry Fox followed on his Marathon of Hope from St. John’s,
Newfoundland and Labrador, to Thunder Bay, Ontario. One
design will be chosen from the entries received.
Parks Canada will use the selected quotes and route design
concept as inspiration for the final design of the Terry Fox
Mile ‘0’ Memorial Site in St. John’s, Newfoundland and
Labrador, the site where Terry Fox began his Marathon of
Hope in 1980.
The three youths who submitted the chosen
works and a parent or guardian will be brought to Ottawa in
the Fall to participate in an event where the selected
quotes and route design will be announced.
“No one foresaw how successful Terry Fox would be in raising
awareness for cancer research,” said Minister Prentice.
“Year after year, decade after decade, generation after
generation, we continue his fight to find a cure. I am very
pleased that young Canadians will have an opportunity to
help shape the way in which we will commemorate Terry Fox
and his achievement.”
“Terry’s dream has been shared and embraced by close to 3
million students participating in the annual Terry Fox
National School Run Day,” said Betty and Rolly Fox, parents
of Terry Fox. “We are delighted that youth from across
Canada will be involved in developing the Mile 0 site where
Terry began his Marathon of Hope.”
The challenge runs from September 30, 2010, which coincides
with the Terry Fox Foundation National School Run Day,
through to October 22, 2010.
For more information about Terry Fox or the Mile ‘0’
Memorial Site please visit Parks Canada’s website at
www.pc.gc.ca.
For more information about the “What Terry Fox means to me”
challenge please visit the Terry Fox Foundation website
at
www.terryfox.org.
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