Steve Fonyo 1516081 225782047 2008-07-15T11:08:05Z 70.68.69.219 '''Steve Fonyo, Jr.''', [[Order of Canada|O.C.]], (born June 29,1965 to a Hungarian family in Montreal) is a [[Canada|Canadian]] man who lost his left leg to [[cancer]] at age 12 and embarked on a cross-Canada [[Marathon (sport)|marathon]] entitled the "Journey for Lives" to raise funds for cancer research. In doing so, he followed in the footsteps of [[Terry Fox]]; unlike Fox, who had to abandon his marathon when his cancer returned, Fonyo completed the coast-to-coast marathon and also completed a marathon across Great Britain. Fonyo began his "Journey for Lives" marathon on [[March 31]], [[1984]] at 18 years of age and completed it on [[May 29]], [[1985]], covering 7924 [[kilometre|km]] and raising $14 million (Canadian dollars). The early part of his run was overshadowed by the memory of Fox and some Canadians criticized him as a copycat. Despite this, he persevered and as he progressed beyond Fox's stopping point, he eventually won recognition in his own right for his efforts. He was named an Officer of the [[Order of Canada]] in 1985. This achievement was marred by grief, as his father Steve Fonyo, Sr. died of [[lung cancer]] the same year. In later years he suffered from depression and faced legal difficulties due to various criminal charges, namely firearms offences, assault with a deadly weapon, fraud and theft, for which he ended up receiving a [[suspended sentence]]. He recovered and determined to get his life back on course. He studied mechanics at an early age as well as aircraft maintenance and as of 2008, was working as a mechanic in Surrey BC. Legal difficulties continue [http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=b641e4c8-adc6-4fe4-8a6e-e8aa04fb367a&k=98018]. Steve Fonyo Drive in [[Kingston, Ontario]] is named after him, as is Steve Fonyo Beach in [[Victoria, British Columbia]] where he ended his run. Erected at the oval where he trained for the Canadian marathon (Fulton Park, Vernon BC) was a plaque in his memory however it was removed when he ran into legal trouble{{Fact|date=March 2008}}. The anniversary of his completion of "Journey for Lives" is never celebrated publicly and he is only mentioned on the news when running into trouble{{Fact|date=March 2008}}. Fonyo was the youngest person ever appointed as an Officer of the Order in 1985, but following his appointment he developed an addiction to cocaine. The Advisory Council considered removing him in 1995 following a criminal conviction related to his cocaine use, but did not move to strip him from the order. Fonyo Road was also named in [[Prince Albert, Saskatchewan]]. ==See also== *[[Terry Fox]] *[[Marathon of Hope]] *[[Terry Fox Run]] ==External links== * http://www.weht.net/WEHT/Steve_Fonyo.html {{DEFAULTSORT:Fonyo, Steve}} [[Category:Canadian disabled sportspeople]] [[Category:Canadian amputees]] [[Category:Officers of the Order of Canada]] [[Category:1966 births]] [[Category:Living people]] {{canada-sportbio-stub}}