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10-year-old with cancer motivates Terry Fox

Broadcast Date: Aug. 27, 1980

In his trek across Canada, Terry Fox has met hockey stars and actors, CEOs and even the prime minister. But it's a ten-year-old boy with cancer that impresses him most. In Terrace Bay, Ont., Terry meets Greg Scott, who also lost a leg to bone cancer and was undergoing chemotherapy. Recalling his own cancer treatments, the tearful runner tells onlookers that it's people like Greg, dealing with cancer, who are the real heroes.

Follow Terry's progress with Terry Fox 25: Reliving the Marathon of Hope

10-year-old with cancer motivates Terry Fox

• Greg Scott was a young all-star baseball player who, like Terry, had lost a leg to bone cancer. Greg was from Welland, Ont., and had met Terry when he ran through Hamilton. Terry frequently inquired about Greg's health, and the boy flew with his family up to Terrace Bay to see Terry again. He spent several days with Terry.

• Despite losing a leg, Greg Scott was able to ride a bicycle, and trailed behind Terry Fox. In his diary, Terry described it like this: "Greg rode his bike behind me for about six miles and it has to be the most inspirational moment I have had! At night we had a beautiful reception in Terrace Bay. I spoke about Greg and couldn't hold back the emotion."

• Greg was a good swimmer. Terry wasn't, having swam only twice since he lost his leg. At Jackfish Lake, Greg and Terry jokingly tested the water with their artificial legs, then took them off and went swimming with the whole Marathon of Hope entourage, to the delight of the reporters. Terry frequently thought about Greg during the remainder of his run.

• The pastoral moment had a sombre conclusion. After the swim, Terry Fox pulled Toronto Star reporter Christie Blatchford and quietly told her, "Greg's not as lucky as me. He's got it again. They found a spot of cancer again on his lung."
• Greg Scott died at age 11 at his parents' home in Welland, Ont., on Aug. 11, 1981 — six weeks after Terry Fox died. Greg's father Rod said the boy died unafraid and confident "he'd be seeing Terry again."

• If running with Greg Scott was the most inspirational day of the trip, the following day was the most deflating. That night, Terry read an article from New Westminster, B.C. columnist Doug Smith which alleged that Terry drove across part of Quebec instead of running. "I nearly blew up!" Terry wrote in his diary. "Broke my heart! I have a saddened and weakening attitude toward the media and press."

• The report claimed that, "He ran only 150 of the 700 miles from Gaspé Peninsula to Montreal. He did the rest by van, his reception in La Belle Province being so poor, and then he ran around Montreal to complete the equivalent mileage." The story was false: Terry insisted on not even missing a foot of the distance. A retraction was printed, but the resentment remained.

Also on August 27:
• 1912: Thomas Wilby & and Jack Haney start the first cross-Canada automobile trip in a REO Special to establish the All Red Route, which is a network of roads. Their trip takes 52 days from Halifax, N.S. to Victoria; B.C. Wilby is an English journalist, Haney a REO Motor Car Company mechanic/driver.

• 1980: The Ottawa Journal and Winnipeg Tribune stop publishing. The Journal, owned by Thompson Newspapers, was first published in 1886. Southam Inc. owned The Ottawa Citizen, the only other major daily in town. Southam closes the Tribune (est.1890) the next day, leaving Thomson's newspaper, the Free Press, the only major daily in Winnipeg. This unusual transaction prompts an investigation into possible collusion by the owners. It would lead to the Kent Commission on newspaper ownership.

10-year-old with cancer motivates Terry Fox

Medium: Television

Program: CBC Television News Special

Production Date: Aug. 27, 1980

Guest(s): Terry Fox

Host: Peter Mansbridge
Reporter: Bill Good Jr.

Duration: 1:35

Last updated:
Aug. 5, 2008