Never give up on a dream...

My social work in Dubai started with the Terry Fox Run in 2003. I volunteered to help with the registration of this ‘Marathon of Hope’ and eventually was made to lead the campaign (among other campaigns) by my mentor Mr. V. K. Manikan.
The campaigns gave me insights into the social work field and eventually in 2005, I decided to give up my job in Emirates Airlines & return to India to take up full time social work.
Not like I’m here to save the world, but just trying to make a difference to a few people I come across.
Terry Fox Run (TFR) will always be special coz that’s how it all started for me.
So what is this TFR and who was Terry?

Terry Fox was a 22 yr old Canadian who was diagnosed with bone cancer at the age of 18. He had to amputate his right leg a little above the knee due to cancer. While in hospital, Terry was so overcome by the suffering of other cancer patients, many of them young children, that he decided to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research.

He called his journey the Marathon of Hope.

After 18 months, and running over 5,000 kilometres to prepare, Terry started his run on April 12, 1980 with little fanfare. Although it was difficult to garner attention in the beginning, enthusiasm soon grew, and the money collected along his route began to mount. He ran 42 kilometres a day through Canada's provinces.
It was a journey that Canadians never forgot.
However, on September 1st, after 143 days and 5,373 kilometres Terry was forced to stop running because cancer had spread to his lungs. An entire nation was stunned and saddened. Terry passed away on June 28, 1981 at age 22.

The heroic Canadian was gone, but his legacy was just beginning.



This song, Never Give Up On A Dream, was written about Terry's Marathon of Hope, and recorded by Rod Stewart.



If there's doubt and you're cold,
don't you worry what the future holds.
We've gotta have heroes to teach us all
to never give up on a dream.
Claim the road, touch the sun,
no force on earth could stop you run.
When your heart bursts like the sun
never never give up on a dream.

Shadows fall, daylight dies,
freedom never got a place to hide.
Search forever photo finish line
but never give up on your dream.
Crazy notions fill your head,
you gotta break all the records set.
Push yourself until the end
but don't you ever give up on your dream.

Now listen to me you don't need no restrictions;
you can't live on sympathy.
You just need to go the distance, oh the distance
That's all you need to be free,
Now listen to me! Inspiring all to never lose,
it'll take a long long time before they fill your shoes
It'll take somebody, who's lot like you
who never gave up on a dream.
.