Steve Fonyo whose "Journey for Lives" cross country run was inspired by Terry Fox's unfinished Marathon of Hope has run afoul of the law. He raised $13 million for cancer research int he 1980's, was awarded the Order of Canada and was named athlete of the year in 1985.
He was convicted for the seventh time of driving without a license and given a 30 day jail term.
Although Fonyo finished the non-stop trek across the country he never got out from under the shadow of Fox. Despite his achievement he had to continue to fight his cancer. Fox died but his heroic image retains a purity that goes with dying young at apex of your mission. Fonyo it seems will always be the copycat to Fox's original marathon of hope. When the race was over so was his celebrity.
I truly admire Terry for taking the initiative to support cancer research, but I also admire Steve for carrying on Terry's legacy. Those who knock Fonyo for being a copycat might want to reconsider. Who can blame an 18 year old kid for being inspired by Fox's heroics. Steve is the man who followed in the footsteps of a giant and finished what Terry started, and I think that Terry would be proud of that accomplishment.It is very sad to hear about his addictions, and troubles with the law. But don't forget - he ran across Canada with a prosthetic leg, and raised 13 million dollars for Cancer research -
what have you done lately that allows you to put down this Canadian hero.
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