Four bronze statues commemorate Terry Fox's epic run

Four bronze statues of Terry Fox - built to last a thousand years, says sculptor Douglas Coupland - were unveiled Friday on the Terry Fox Plaza at BC Place as a lasting bronze memorial to a genuine Canadian hero.

Together they depict the iconic hopping and shuffling gait Fox adopted as he attempted to run across Canada in 1980 on an artificial leg to raise money for cancer research. A reoccurrence of his own cancer, which had cost him his right leg when he was 18, forced him to quit just east of Thunder Bay, Ont., five months after he began his run in St. John's, N.L.

He died in 1981 at 22 but his Marathon of Hope had raised millions of dollars to fight cancer and had captured the imagination of Canadians from coast to coast. The Terry Fox Foundation has since raised over half a billion dollars for cancer research.

Premier Christy Clark, who along with members of Fox's family including his father Rolly, unveiled the bronze statues, said had Fox lived today his chances of surviving cancer would have been four times greater - a state of affairs due in part to the money raised in his name.

"He challenged us to be better, reach higher and to imagine things we could do that we never thought were possible," said Clark.

Coupland, who designed the custom bronze statues, became friends with the Fox family while writing a book about the runner, called simply Terry.

Rolly Fox paid tribute to the work his wife Betty, who died earlier this year, had gone over the years in raising money for the foundation.

"Betty said there will come a time when those of us who were Marathon of Hope witnesses will not be able to share our personal accounts of how Terry moved us and why. This is why Doug's work has meaning and value as it will help to spread Terry's dream when the Marathon of Hope generation is no longer here and able," he said.

"We do not forget the image of Terry running. It is forever ingrained in you, it leaves you shaken and humbled.

I'm very proud of my son, how he matured though his journey with cancer, how he learned to appreciate life, how he committed his life to helping others.

"The Marathon of Hope raised $24 million for cancer research in 1980 yet Terry was penniless, yet he was rich with the knowledge that he'd tried his very best, that he had run until he could run no more."
The first of the large bronze statues is a life-size sculpture, but each increases in size until the final one is a double life-size statue. It depicts Fox giving his familiar wave to Canadians who, touched by his bravery, would line his route as he passed through their communities.

The bronze statues face Stanley Park, which is where Fox was aiming to end his run. They replace an earlier memorial arch taken down to upgrade the plaza as part of the revitalization of BC Place.
To create the bronze sculptures, Coupland said a video of Fox running was used in order to break down his motion into four components.

The ceremony at the intersection of Robson and Beatty streets drew a couple of hundred spectators and 200 schoolchildren who ran into the plaza wearing Terry Fox T-shirts to mark the 31st national Terry Fox Run, which takes place Sunday in communities across Canada.

Big Statues Puts on a Great Show at the 2011 Fraternal Order of Police Expo in Salt Lake City

Protect and Serve! Big Statues may not lay their life on the line every time we go into the shop… (that is, not unless we’re really not careful)… but this weekend, we got to meet some of the bravest men and women that sure do! On August 14-16^th, Big Statues had the pleasure of exhibiting at the 2011, 60th Biennial National Conference and Expo for the National Fraternal Order of the Police, where members Matt Glenn and Erin Callister were able to meet and exchange with some of the most fascinating public servants from around the country. Coming from departments and lodges from California to Maine, all sorts of law enforcement personnel came to meet at the Salt Palace Convention Center for a week of information, networking, and fun.  Here members were able to visit a fantastic exhibition of booths presenting all ranges of products and services from the latest technology in non-lethal weapons, to security cameras, motorcycles, and bullet-proof vests. Countless non-profit organizations that help wounded or disabled police officers meet and participate in enriching outdoor activities were there to help foster and grow the national family of policemen and women. Great universities and online programs that offer quick and easy paths to further officer’s educations and careers were there to show how even retired officers could gain their next degrees. There were flashing lights, zapping blasts from taser demonstrations, flying bullets from nerf gun shooting competitions, and yes, even sinful doughnuts, but some of the most amazing displays were the bronze statuary and memorials that artists created for these selfless officers. 

Big Statues offers the finest museum-quality artwork in bronze sculptures and life-size bronze monuments and was able to help representatives from police departments, new and old, discover how they could have a completely one-of-a-kind police memorial of their very own. Here, we presented bronze plaques, bronze busts, life-size statues, quarter-life statues, scale models, and bronze figurines of police-chiefs, fallen officers, and K-9 champions to men and women searching for a way to honor their greatest heroes.

Just picture it now.

Grand monuments of larger than life size bronze statues of police officers, standing nine feet tall, surrounded by bronze plaques engraved forever with the names of policemen and women who have given their lives to protect your families and friends. Walls of etched marble and stone pavers at your feet, showing all the names of donors and associations that helped make the monument possible. 3-D relief bronze seals at the center of the pavers, and bronze plaques of police department badges on every wall. Benches and flagpoles with special names engraved. Banners and flags of America, your state, and your city, waving in the gentle breeze above it all. And at the heart of everything, a heroic size custom bronze statue of an officer with such kind eyes, a noble smile, and an outstretched hand to all those that call that city home.

Big Statues has made so many dreams come true with monuments for police departments just like this all over the country. It was the greatest honor to spread the word to everyone that came to be a part of such a memorable experience can have a bronze memorial too.