“I want to set an example that will never be forgotten“ -Terry Fox
2020 was no doubt a year we are all hoping to put behind us as quickly as possible, but it also marked the 40 year anniversary of Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope, which sadly flew under the radar.They say it is better to give than receive and this Christmas I was excited to gift “Forever Terry – A Legacy in Letters”, a book that is a collection of thoughts about Terry Fox written by prominent Canadians.
Here is where I brag about my sister-in-law Kim Gaucher, a powerhouse athlete in her own right, who is featured in the book. It is amazing to see Kim’s name beside Canadian legends such as Wayne Gretzky, Isadore Sharp (for us hospitality people), Christine Sinclair and Sydney Crosby. Kim has earned her place among these icons for being a trailblazer in Canadian women’s basketball and has gone on to lead team Canada as the captain to two Olympics and four World Championships.
In Kim’s excerpt (page 171) she shares Terry’s impact on her as a BC native and elite athlete. She highlights how Terry always started at the exact same point he finished the day before – never cutting corners. I have witnessed how rooted this is in her work ethic. You don’t need to be an elite athlete to be inspired by the Terry Fox story. He was not the most talented or gifted athlete and, as Kim points out, his University basketball coach cut better players. Terry was determined, motivated and fearless. His attitude towards life was truly incredible. He refused to be a victim of cancer and instead used his unique set of characteristics to accomplish something of historic proportions.
From humble beginnings, Terry dipped his toe in the Atlantic Ocean and set off on his epic journey, only accompanied by his best friend in a van. Their adventure turned into a national phenomenon which became globally recognized.
Today, certainly in the hospitality world, we have an enormous challenge ahead of us to overcome. There is no better figure to channel for energy and determination. We made the decision not to give up, so where do we go from here? As a team, we continue to motivate one another and search for productive initiatives. We plan for return to work in Toronto and ensure our procedures meet the needs of our guests. Above all, we get up every day ready to work…never cutting corners. This is how we win in the long run.
-Written by Andrew Hodd, President of Vantage Venues
