September 29, 2017

I remember one day when Domenic was in kindergarten, him running out the school doors and telling me so excitedly that he needed to bring a toonie for Terry the next day. He told me, "Mom, I think I'm going to bring in TWO toonies!!!!"

I was so proud. "Wow! That's so great Domenic!" And then I turned to Matteo and said, "did you hear that Matteo? Domenic wants to bring in two toonies tomorrow. How much would you like to bring?"

He looked at me and shrugged, "I dunno mom. I don't understand why we need to give. He (Terry) didn't finish."

Oh. My. Gawd. Did he just say that? I was shocked. I stood there in disbelief. How could we have raised a little boy with such a lack of compassion? Where did we go wrong????? Reflecting on his words for a few brief moments, I recognized that it wasn't a lack of compassion, it was Matteo's logical mind at work. He didn’t understand. Why reward someone who didn't "win the race"? Someone who didn't cross the finish line? I had to tell him that what made Terry Fox so amazing was that he STARTED the race and that it's up to us to keep running for him.

Like Matteo, for many years, my appreciation for Terry Fox was limited. My only recollections of the annual run was how much I disliked it. Not that I was opposed to Terry or the cause, I just hated running. "We have to run around the field HOW many times???" It wasn't until adulthood, until motherhood, until Matteo's diagnosis that my understanding grew and my true adoration began.

Terry was a Canadian athlete, humanitarian, and cancer research activist. In 1980, with one leg having been amputated, he embarked on an east to west cross-Canada run to raise money and awareness for cancer research.

Terry is a hero. By definition a hero is “a person who is admired or idealized for COURAGE, OUTSTANDING ACHIEVMENTS AND NOBLE QUALITIES.” He ran in the cold and the rain. Through heat and winds. He ran through pain and fatigue. He ran the “Marathon of Hope”, as he called it a “quixotic adventure across Canada that defied logic and common sense.”

COURAGE. CHECK.

“He was strong, wilful and stubborn. He wanted to show that a man is not less because he has lost a leg, indeed, he may be more. Certainly, he showed there were no limits to what an amputee could do. He changed people’s attitude towards the disabled, and he showed that while cancer had claimed his leg, his spirit was unbreakable.” (terryfox.org)

NOBLE QUALITIES. CHECK.

When Terry had to end his run and was taken to the hospital to find out that his cancer had spread, his father, Rolly, was overheard saying, “I think it’s unfair. Very unfair.”

“I don’t feel this is unfair,” Terry told him. “That’s the thing about cancer. I’m not the only one. It happens all the time, to other people. I’m not special. This just intensifies what I did. It gives it more meaning. It’ll inspire more people. I could have sat on my rear end, I could have forgotten what I’d seen in the hospital, but I didn’t.”

The spread of his cancer eventually forced him to end his quest after 143 days and 5,373 kilometres (3,339 mi), his efforts resulted in a lasting, worldwide legacy. The annual Terry Fox Run, first held in 1981, has grown to involve millions of participants in over 60 countries and is now the world's largest one-day fundraiser for cancer research; over C$650 million has been raised in his name. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_Fox)

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS. CHECK.

Today, we had the opportunity to remember Terry and to remember Matteo. St. Alphonsus school hosted their annual Terry Fox run this afternoon. After listening to a video on Terry’s life, two of Matteo’s best friends, Amari and Giuliano, spoke words of love and remembrance. Then, led by one of the most outstanding music teachers, the grade 3’s and grade 5’s sang “This is my fight song” for the whole school to hear. Four of Matteo’s friends showed their entrepreneurial spirit and love for Matteo and those that have been effected by cancer, by painting and selling rocks over the last few days with all proceeds going to cancer research. The whole school (a population of 368 students) raised approx. $2,200.00 for pediatric cancer research through the Terry Fox Foundation. AMAZING. We feel so lucky that Matteo went to this school. From the amazing administration, championing teachers, supportive families and fantastic kids, this place really is a gem. And in front of this gem, in memory of Matteo, St. Alphonsus parent council had a beautiful friendship bench placed just outside of the classroom that he sat and learned in for grade two and three. Our family has felt so loved through everything and we have such gratitude for how the whole community has kept Matteo’s spirit alive and how they continue to support Domenic.

Thank you to all of those who ran for Terry and Matteo. Thank you to all of those who keep speaking his name and remembering.

Attached are some videos from this afternoon. There are also some pictures of Domenic in front of Terry’s van (so cool!!!!) when we were in Victoria and the beautiful statue of Terry at Mile 0.

The Matteo Shafer Legacy Fund will be matching all funds raised by St. Alphonsus. Thank you again to all loving donors.