Every Step Matters: What Terry Fox Still Teaches Us About Hope
Some stories stay with us long after they start. Terry Fox’s story is one of those.
Recently, I had the privilege of speaking with students and staff at Bluenose Academy as they gathered to honour Terry Fox and his Marathon of Hope.
As I stood in front of a school full of 700 students from grades primary through nine, I thought about how simple and powerful Terry’s example was. He didn’t know what was coming next, but he kept moving forward, one step at a time.
That idea became the main point of my message.
Every step matters.
I talked a bit about Terry’s story, but I also shared some of my own experiences.
Living with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer has taught me a lot about uncertainty. Some days, the way forward is clear. Other days, it isn’t. Sometimes plans and treatments change, and life asks us to adjust again.
Through all of this, I’ve learned how important it is to keep moving forward.
Sometimes that means taking a big step.
Sometimes it means taking a very small one.
Sometimes it simply means getting up and choosing hope again.
Terry Fox showed great courage, but I wanted students to see that courage can also show up in everyday life. It can be in kindness, perseverance, helping someone, facing something hard, or just trying again.
We don’t all have to run across Canada to make a difference.
Each of us has our own steps to take.
Looking out at the students, I reminded them that everyone faces challenges. None of us can avoid uncertainty. What matters is how we respond to it.
One foot in front of the other.
That message has become deeply personal for me.
Cancer is part of my life, but it doesn’t define me. I keep choosing family, travel, movement, laughter, meaningful work, connection, and hope. I try to live each day as fully as I can.
Terry’s Marathon of Hope goes on because people keep sharing his message.
Students run.
Families donate.
Schools gather.
Communities remember.
Research continues.
Hope continues.
I’m grateful to the staff and students of Bluenose Academy for letting me join their Terry Fox celebration and for reminding me again how powerful community can be.
Maybe that’s one of Terry’s greatest legacies.
He showed us that one person can start something meaningful, but it takes many people and many steps to keep it going.
No matter what path you’re on today, I hope you remember this:
You do not have to take the biggest step.
You do not have to be the fastest.
You have to keep moving forward.
One foot in front of the other.
Every step matters.
Watch the full presentation here: https://youtu.be/W04R8ttoKiA?si=ageXMKvOLjNYjgW2.
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