HomeMy WebLinkAboutRead Aloud Book Gr. 3-Lesson 12Terry Fox grew up in Canada. He loved sports, especially basketball. He was not tall,
but he practiced basketball every day until he became an excellent player. Terry was
also very good at soccer, rugby, baseball, and diving. In high school, Terry was so good
at diving that his coaches thought he should train to compete professionally. But Terry
decided to sacrifi ce that opportunity to go to college instead. He wanted to become a
physical education teacher.
When Terry was eighteen years old, doctors told him that he had cancer. They found
a type of bone cancer in his leg. They had to amputate, or cut off, his leg in order to
save his life. Losing his leg made Terry very sad. He was afraid that he would not be able
to play sports with this disability.
While he was in the hospital, Terry watched other patients who were plagued by
cancer. He especially felt sorry for the children who had cancer. He saw their agony and
wanted to do something to help them fi ght cancer. After the amputation, doctors fi tted
Terry with an artifi cial leg. Terry decided to run across Canada to raise money to fi ght
cancer. There was some controversy among his doctors about whether he should do it,
but Terry was determined. He called it the “Marathon of Hope.”
Terry started to run across Canada in 1980. He started in Newfoundland, a Canadian
island in the Atlantic Ocean. Before running, Terry dipped his leg into the Atlantic Ocean.
His plan was to run about twenty-six miles a day, the distance of a marathon. No one
had ever tried to do this before. Terry would be doing it using an artifi cial leg.
Terry was the topic of news reports all over the world. His goal was to raise one dollar
from each citizen of Canada. It was hard for him to get up every day and run twenty-six
miles, but he did it, mile after mile, day after day. He ran for 143 days.
Then Terry got some devastating news. The cancer had returned to his body and
spread to his lungs. He had to stop running and try to get well. Unfortunately, the cancer
took his life within a year. Millions of people whom Terry had inspired were upset by the
somber news.
The Marathon of Hope was not started in vain. Terry’s brave decision made him a hero.
The Canadians even named a mountain after him. People continue to raise millions of
dollars in his name to fi ght cancer. Terry proved that one person can change the world.
COMPREHENSION What helped Terry handle the challenge of losing his leg to
cancer? Which words help you understand Terry’s pain and diffi culty?
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“Tucker! What happened?” Ms. Ames exclaimed as I struggled to sit down
with my cast and crutches.
“I broke my leg over the weekend,” I said bitterly. “I have to wear this cast
for six weeks.” I couldn’t hide my disappointment.
She looked at me in agitation. “The play will be over by then! You can’t perform
the lead role on crutches. I’m sorry, Tucker. David will have to take your part.”
Even though her decision made sense, I strained not to show how upset I was.
Ms. Ames clapped her hands. “Everyone, get in your places. No need to
add to Tucker’s torment by staring at him.” The other kids in the cast and crew
drifted back to their spots. All but Max, who ran the lighting and sound board.
He went over to Ms. Ames and spoke to her quietly. Then he disappeared.
Watching the rehearsal was tedious. I realized there was no point in staying.
I had reached the threshold of losing my patience, and I was just putting
myself through extra stress. I got up, clanking and banging my crutches.
“Wait, Tucker, don’t go yet,” Ms. Ames said. “Max thinks you’d be a big help
on the board. Want to try?”
I nodded. “I’d like to help in some way.”
Next thing I knew, I was sitting next to Max in front of a huge board full of
switches. Max explained what each switch and knob did. I listened in silence.
Controlling the sounds and lights for the whole play was more complicated
than I’d guessed.
Max paused. “Hey, you aren’t looking at this as some kind of penalty, are you?”
he asked me.
“No way! This is cool. On stage, you think you’re the only one in the play,” I
admitted. “Now I realize it’s a team effort.”
He grinned. “Sounds like you’re learning! Come on, let’s run through Act 1.”
COMPREHENSION Which words help you understand that people are
upset? Why does Tucker feel better at the end?
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