Barbara Lepp

I think I’ve only ever had one real hero in my life: Terry Fox. This week I’ve been reflecting on my race, but also missing out on the Terry Fox runs back home that I’d usually be out to support. I’ve taken so much inspiration from Terry. His dedication, his humility, and his desire to use his story & passion to do good in the community are just a few of his traits that I try to emulate in my own journey. These are all chronic traits but in a moment last Saturday morning, on the streets of Tokyo, it was Terry’s strength of will that I needed most. It was a trait I wasn’t sure I had. But like Terry, I simply had to try. 1 step, then 100 steps, then 1000 steps. I’ve learned a lot about myself this week. I’ve learned that I’m so much stronger than I think I am. I’ve learned that the thing about the Gold medal that brings me the most joy is seeing the joy it brings others when I ask if I can put it around their neck. And I’ve learned that 30 odd years ago I chose the best hero imaginable. Thank You Terry for teaching me what it means to be Canadian, for showing me the power our dreams have, and for teaching me that we all have tremendous strength. And thank you to @TerryFoxCanada for the amazing work you do. Everyone should check out the ‘Finish It’ campaign (where this amazing audio is from) to learn more.