Four bronze statues stretched out across the square, all facing the same way, in a line one after the other. Each statue was of the same figure, a young man running, each one showing a different posture on the journey. His left leg was a runner's leg through and through: long, muscular and sturdy. His left leg was absent, replaced by a prosthesis with a shoe on the end that was too large in comparison.
I bent my head in thought, wove my steps between the bronze figures. Terry Fox... I'd heard that name before. Who was he, again?
Little did I know how powerful the story was, whose surface I was scratching. Little did I know the impact it would have on me.
You're probably as confused as I was
It's a bit disorientating when we stumble upon something without any context, isn't it?
When we find ourselves in the midst of a situation without any backstory we have to think fast, work it out as we go. It's a useful skill, though it takes work. It's so much easier when someone can help us, when they bring us up to speed so our mental energy doesn't deplete as quickly.
So, let me fill in the blanks for you. You might find that the gaps are worth more than you bargained for...
If stories be the food of connection, speak on
The day I came across those four bronze statues, I was visiting Vancouver on the west coast of Canada. I sort of recognised the name, and as I read the surrounding plaques my memory sparked a little. Six months earlier I had been living with friends in the Rockies; one of my Canadian flatmates had a T-shirt on with the same guy running, and the words ‘Terry Fox, Marathon of Hope.’
‘Who's Terry Fox?’ I asked my friend.
'He was a runner. He ran across the country to raise money but he died of cancer. He's a Canadian icon.'
That was all I knew about Terry Fox the day I saw his likeness in Vancouver. I had no idea that the story I saw at face value was entirely the wrong way round. I had no idea that uncovering the story would lead me to some of the most exciting things I've ever done. And, more important, some lessons I can share with you.
An inspirational journey; a marathon of hope
Fast forward eighteen months and 3,000+ miles and I found myself looking at a statue of the same young man in St John's Newfoundland, on Canada's east coast. I was struck by the beauty of the memorial and the powerful quote that accompanied it.
“I just wish people would realise that anything is possible if you try; dreams are made if people try.”
- Terry Fox
Compared with the series of statues on a snazzy boulevard in glittering, cosmopolitan Vancouver, there was something spare about it. Set against the wild Atlantic Ocean, it was tucked away in a quiet corner of a small city at the farthest reaches of the country, without much pizazz.
The Canadian friend whose T-Shirt I'd seen originally was travelling with me, so I badgered him for information. It also prompted my own research and I discovered one of the most powerful stories I have ever heard.
Terry Fox was a high-school athlete when he was diagnosed with bone cancer. Aged eighteen, his right leg was amputated six inches above the knee. He continued to play sport, and in the autumn of 1979 decided to run across Canada to raise funds for cancer research. In April 1980, Terry began his ‘Marathon of Hope’ at St John's in Newfoundland. His aim was to run to Vancouver, gathering support and raising money as he went. He ran 26 miles every day for 143 days. On 1st September 1980, he stopped running as cancer was found in his lungs. Terry went back to his home for treatment. He never returned to finish the marathon he had started; his health never recovered and Terry Fox died on the 28th June 1981, aged 22.
As stories go, it's one of the most profoundly impactful I think I’ve ever heard. Here was someone a similar age to myself, who had faced such adversity and who had found a way to pick themselves back up off the ground. It boggled my mind and has stayed with me ever since.
What I didn't realise at the time, was that the story I uncovered would go on to shape my life in ways I couldn't yet see.
The power of an incredible story
The resilience, tenacity and optimism that overflows from Terry's story touched a nerve at the time and hasn't stopped twanging it since. It spoke to some part of me that I hadn't yet realised was there.
My life had been fairly smooth sailing up until the point that I discovered Terry. Within a few years I had my own challenges to face. When difficulties, ill health and bereavement became a feature of my own life, Terry's story inspired me. I realised that if he could do something so epic in the face of overwhelming odds, I could certainly have a crack at something out of my comfort zone.
And so I started running. The woman who would rather wait another half hour than run for the bus, the teenager who'd find whatever reason she could to avoid PE lessons, and the girl who'd rather sit indoors with a book than play sport, took up running. It gave me a purpose, a way to raise money for those whose fate I had to stand by and watch unfold, a reason to feel like I was helping.
It was a wonderful experience, a journey that taught me a lot. The realisation dawned on me that I could emulate the physical action and run, change my own internal state and have a tiny impact on the world. I could tire myself out and find energy I didn't know I had.
But those lessons are another story for another day. What emerged from my chance discovery of this small-town Canadian with enormous vision, was the power of storytelling.
In the midst of my own challenges, I started to pick up on other stories, fragments gleaned from TV, radio, books, magazines, about people who had their back against the wall for whatever reason. I discovered that I wanted to hear other people's stories; I needed to know what else was out there, what others were up against and how they found the strength to get through it.
When a story becomes more than a story
Lucky for me, I stumbled upon podcasts. I discovered a rich treasure trove of human stories; an ancient gift wrapped up in modern media. But there was a common theme: as with Terry's story, I was trying to work all of this out backwards. I didn't know I needed to hear from other people until I did. In the same way that I learnt about Terry's journey backwards, from the end-point that never was, I was trying to make sense of what was happening in life retrospectively and groping around in the dark for a light to help me do that.
Art mirrors life. Because stories are life
Isn't that always the way? Whenever we face some kind of challenge, difficulty or hurdle in life the wisdom we need is rarely available to us at the start. If it was, it wouldn't be much of an obstacle, simply a bump in the road.
“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.”
- Søren Kierkegaard
So often, in my experience anyway, the wisdom you need to deal with a situation, isn't apparent until after the event. Long after the moment has passed, you're sitting pretty with the insight that would have been very useful when you were in the thick of it!
What if there was a way to access it upfront - or at least to turn on the tap when needed?
That was exactly what listening to podcasts did for me. Here were people from every profession, walk of life, every background, speaking directly into my ears about the difficulties they had faced, what they did and – most importantly – what they had learnt.
It blew my mind. It was as if the curtain had been drawn back and the magician was revealing all of his secrets. Through listening to other people, I could benefit from all of their experience, apply their lessons to my life and ease some of my own discomfort.
It wasn't about a quick win. It wasn't a hack to magic away the mire I found myself wading through. It was a helping hand chucking me the waders, the wellies, the goggles to protect me as I made the journey. A guide that offered support, not someone to do the dirty work for me.
My own marathon of hope (sort of)
I've been working on something to uphold and continue the healing power of sharing stories.
Taking inspiration from all that has come before, I’ve put together my own podcast to share your stories. To offer the medicine that I took from the podcasts to the next person who needs to hear a powerful story; and to the next person who needs it, and the next, and the next, and the next...
It's my hope that with this project, you can share in the life lessons you might need, before you need them – or when you do.
There's one caveat though. I'm only interviewing ordinary people, hence the name of the podcast: The Ordinary Extra.
If there's one thing I found frustrating about the podcasts I listened to, it's that the magnitude of the stories was so huge. The people interviewed were of enormous public, even global, stature. Tales of solo sailing trips around the world. People with access to powerful figures in business, politics, the arts. Multi-expeditionists taking on challenges beyond the size and scope of comprehension.
I love those stories.
And they need to be told.
But what about the person who's training for their first ascent of Snowdon, not their third summit of Everest? Where are those stories? They are no less valuable than the lessons taught by a year-long trek through the jungle.
My thinking is simple: I had never heard of Terry Fox. In fact, his death took place long before I was even born, let alone before I'd discovered his story. And yet this person, this complete unknown (to me) gave me so much hope, inspiration and perspective through the low points as well as the high ones.
Yes, it's incredible to hear from the people on epic trips, the ones who make TV documentaries and release books and do speaking tours. But the people that you've never heard of have as much wisdom; their stories uplift and inspire others too.
And that's my mission. To bring you incredible people you've never heard of, and stories you won't forget.
Where to find The Ordinary Extra
Terry Fox’s story has inspired me for years. It’s given me confidence when the chips were down. His determination has encouraged me since the very first days of my writing career.
As I embark on something new, I hope that the same sentiment meets you where you are. To give you whatever you need to keep taking another step. And another. And another.
You can find The Ordinary Extra here: https://the-ordinary-extra.simplecast.com/ or wherever you get your podcasts.
There are a couple of trailer episodes to set the scene and explain the motivation for the project.
Though, I’m most excited about the first full-length episode. Huge thanks to the wonderful Louise McMilan who was gracious enough to sit down with me and share her story. Louise is an amazing speaker and, frankly, is the reason the debut episode turned out half as well as it did. I can highly recommend listening to her story. Thank you, Louise, for being such a good sport, kind and patient.
Don’t forget to subscribe! And if you like it, please do share it with a friend.
If you have a story you’d like to share – or you know someone who does – give me a shout. Thank you.
In the meantime, enjoy this beautiful quote:
“I just wish people would realise that anything is possible if you try; dreams are made if people try.”
- Terry Fox
With love and gratitude, as ever.
Your words matter,
Laura