Terry Fox's message resonates in a big way with Cubans
About 20 per cent of Cuba's entire population participates in a Terry Fox Run
Many Canadians will be participating in Terry Fox runs this weekend, but beyond our borders, no country celebrates the legacy of Terry Fox with as much gusto as Cuba.
Last year, the Terry Fox Foundation estimated that two million Cubans took part in Terry Fox runs across the island nation, which has a population of about 11 million people.
"You can ask pretty much anybody who Terry Fox is, and they'll be able to tell you that he is a hero who put cancer on the map," said Toronto social worker Paul Larrondo.
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Larrondo knows firsthand the adoration Cubans have for Terry Fox. She saw it as a volunteer who brought medical supplies to the country, and in 2010, she brought the Fox family to Cuba so they could see it for themselves.
Family visits
What started as a small event with a few hundred people 17 years ago has grown to become a national phenomenon in Cuba.
Cuba's Terry Fox runs occur every March in over 5,000 cities and towns across the country, and begin with a 10 a.m. call to start from a radio station.
Larrondo says Cubans have taken to Terry Fox's story because they see a similarity between his story of struggle with their own, and because they treasure their health care system so dearly.
Larrondo began the work of bringing the Fox family to Cuba when she met with Cuban diplomats, who she said had long wished for a visit from the Fox family.
When the family came in 2010, she said they were recognized by almost everyone they met and were "completely overwhelmed" by the reception.
"It was a very emotional experience, I think particularly for Betty Fox. It was her last international trip before she passed herself," she said. "When their flight arrived in Havana, they stopped the international baseball game just to announce their arrival."
Larrondo says Cuba's love for Terry Fox shows that his message transcends borders, as does the fight against cancer.
To hear the full story, click the audio labelled: Terry Fox is Canada's hero, but he's Cuba's hero too