Judith Fox-Alder shares Terry Fox’s message at TCS

The Trinity College School community was honoured to be visited by Judith Fox-Alder, the sister of Terry Fox, on Thursday, September 29th.

Ms. Fox-Alder, who is the international director for the Terry Fox Run, came to campus to meet with TCS run organizers Jen Powles and Colin Powles, and also had the chance to speak with Senior and Junior School students and share her brother’s message.

Runners in the School’s Lucky 13 Harriers meet had the special opportunity to receive their medals from Ms. Fox-Alder before she headed over to Boulden House to speak to our Junior School students. “Terry was just an ordinary kid, like you guys,” she told the students, but he was very determined and always set goals for himself. His motto was, “keep trying until you get it right.”For example, when he was in grade school, Terry wanted to play basketball but was told he was too short and not talented enough. But because he was so passionate and positive, the coach allowed him on the team, and he went on to play basketball in middle school, high school and even at Simon Fraser University! “Terry never gave up,” she said.

She talked about the importance of the annual Terry Fox Run and thanked the students for participating. Today, she added, her brother would have a very good chance of surviving the type of cancer he had and likely would not have to lose his leg. This is how far the advancements in cancer research and treatment have come since Terry’s Marathon of Hope in 1980. About half of the money raised each year through the Terry Fox Run programme is raised by schools, she noted. Ms. Fox-Alder presented the School with banners to symbolize our commitment to the Terry Fox Run.

“It truly was an honour to meet Judith and to have a chance to hear first-hand some stories about what it was like growing up with her brother, Terry,” said Mrs. Powles. “It was amazing to see the positive impact she had on everyone she met. She had time for everyone and she was so thankful for everything the TCS community has done to continue Terry’s Marathon of Hope. The messages she conveyed will certainly stay with every student, some of whom may become our future cancer doctors and researchers!”

Click here for more photos from the visit.