As we begin the Winter Olympics in Canada, my thoughts are on Vancouver native Terry Fox. Since 1982, I have had a photo of Terry on my desk. It is a small photo that I clipped from a magazine. He is running. It is the most inspiring photo I have even seen.

Terry Fox was young athlete in 1976, a lot like most high school athletes around the world, “just a very ordinary kid,” according to this mother Bette.

His world would change that year when he was diagnosed with cancer and have his right leg amputated. Terry would choose to not only fight his cancer; he would wage a war against cancer. He had one goal: run across Canada, on one leg, and raise a dollar for every person alive in Canada ( 24 million) in order to find a cure for cancer.

According to Terry, “I could have sat on my rear end. But dreams are made if people try. How many people do what they truly believe in? I just wish people would realize that anything is possible, if you try.”

Terry would run a full marathon, every single, day for 143 days in a row. The photo shows Terry on the road, running on one powerful leg, blood on his shorts, pale determination on his face, which could only say one thing , “I will never be stopped.”

Terry could not complete his race. After running 3,339 miles, his cancer returned and he was forced to stop. However Terry Fox was never stopped. He could never have been stopped. He believed in his dream, gave everything he had, and was living for something greater than himself. As Isador Sharp said at the time, “Terry did not lose his fight, perhaps he finished all he had to do. Terry is like a meteor passing in the sky, one whose light travels beyond our view, yet still shines in the darkest night.”

Terry Fox would live to see $24.17 million dollars donated for his run. Since that year, over $400 million dollars has been raised for cancer research from the annual Terry Fox Run, which today is held each September in over 53 countries, with 2.5 million participants.

What is your dream? What do you believe in that is bigger than you? What will your legacy be?

Dreams are made if people try!