I hope this doesn't sound cold, but there is something about when a hero dies young he/she can really maintain that heroic stature. After his heroic achievement, poor Steve had to continue facing his disease, disability and life in general. Poor Terry died, but his heroic image retained a heroic purity. The Terry Fox - Steve Fonyo comparison is doubly cursed because Terry was the original and Steve the "copycat".

Its similar to when a friend of mine remarked that maybe Billy Idol should have died in that motorcycle crash. Not because he was wishing death on on some one but in terms of image, it was sad to see the brash punker become a drug-addled caricature.

Back in the late 90s, Frank when through a phase of making phoney stamps and seeing if Canada Post would mail the letters. Yes, they would, even the "Republic du Quebec; 40 franc" stamps. One of my favorite gags was the "cross Canada one legged race" where they sent letters with Steve Fonyo and Terry Fox stamps from Halifax to Vancouver to see which would arrive first. Canada Post made some "we're going to the RCMP noises" after the issue came out but nothing came of it. I seem to remember that Fonyo won the race.

Googling "steve fonyo" is an amazing experience of the failing of that tool as any kind of historical archive.

I think we all seen what Terry Fox did as totally selfless and for the cause of cancer research. If memory serves me correctly, Fonyo did the run for self gain. Big difference in the eyes of the public.
I think even if Fonyo had not thought that he should have been compensated for his efforts, he did his run just a little too soon after Terry and as Hans said he was perceived as a "copy cat". Fonyo also did not have the personality that Fox had and no matter how well his intentions were, when the race was over, so was his celebrity.

It would be nice if we were able to actually use the internet to obtain primary documents on this sort of thing as the gain allegation waves a flag but also rings untrue as he certainly would have known he was not to be paid before he hit the Praries. I also recall Terry Fox asking not to be made an icon but that is a recollection from my years as teen jerk.

Not entirely unsympathetic:<blockquote class="smalltext">"I did what I did when I was 18 years old, it was something I really believed in. But sometimes I wonder to myself if it was the right thing to do. I've been living in the same place (Vancouver) for two years and I don't know my neighbours and I don't know what they I do. But they know who I am and what I did." --Steve Fonyo, on his seclusion and inner turmoil, circa 1997.</blockquote>See more here. I would like something to back up that compensation allegation before I would believe it.

One other point - Rick Hansen was something of a copier but that is not held against him.

For whatever reason Steve Fanyo used, he did in fact walk across Canada,perhaps his focus wasn't pure but the fact is he did what he set out to do.
We tend to forget his accomplishment because of poor judgement and perhaps because of poor management. We need to honor the fact he did cross Canada

I too remember those scenes of Steve running in the snow storms. There is no doubt about it both Steve and Terry should be given equal recognition. Unfortunely, that's not how mankind thinks. If Terry would have finished and he would still be alive today, not much would be made of him or the Terry Fox yearly run. I was disappointed in the CBC special on Terry Fox becuase not one word was mentioned of Steve Fonyo, so much for the CBC. I truly admire Terry for taking the initiative to support cancer research, but I also admire Steve for carrying on Terry's legacy. Steve is the man who followed in the footsteps of a giant and finished what Terry started, and I think that Terry would be proud of that accomplishment. That's my two cents.

It was interesting to read the vartious comments and information posted here. I had been thinking about Steve Fonyo quite a bit in the lead up to the 25th anniversary of Terry Fox's Marathon of Hope. I was surprised to hear about Fonyo's troubles, but when you think about multi-millionaire athletes becoming depressed after the lime-light fades away, one has to wonder how coming down from the media attention affects a very young man who, after all lost his leg to cancer. Those who knock Fonyo for being a copycat might want to reconsider. In my opinion he added to the Legend of Terry Fox. Who can blame an 18 year old kid for being inspired by Fox's heroics. It is very sad to hear about his addictions, and troubles with the law. But don't forget - he ran across Canada with a prosthetic leg, and raised 13 million dollars for Cancer research - what have you done lately that allows you to put down this Canadian hero.

Terry Fox, Steve Fonyo & rick Hansen , their all heros in my eyes.

I think of Steve Fonyo often - I think he deservers SOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH praise for what he did, which was to actually do what Terry set out to do.

I just ran my 18th Terry Fox Run since my first in 1983 - I missed a few when I was in the field and couldn't do it. But you know what???? I'd LOVE to do a Steve Fonyo Run. He is also a Canadian hero - I was sooooo happy when I was at U of Alberta and found that the running track was named for him. And I helped fight to keep it named for him when some wanted to change it in light of his, ummmm, 'troubles'.

Steve Fonyo is and will always be a GREAT CANADIAN and I did send in his name when they were looking for the list of Greatest Canadians. Steve, if you're out there buddy - there are lots of us that remember you and appreciate what you did. Just as we do with Terry.

I nominate Steve Fonyo as one of the Greatest Canadians of all time - I'd personally put him in the top 5 with Terry Fox, Tommy Douglas, Lester Pearson, and Pierre Trudeau.

Steve - we still love and admire you buddy.

Alasdair Veitch
Norman Wells, Northwest Territories

Steve --- you showed amazing strength of body, mind, and spirit -- no one can take that away from you. Be proud for following in the footsteps of your hero and for breaking a trail for others to follow as well. Life is complicated and Steve's life just reflects the contradictions and paradoxes that reveal us all to be equally human. I like my mythic heros too, but Steve is flesh and blood and he's a great hero as well.

I Googled Steve Fonyo to see how he was doing -- I remember hearing that things had gone off the rails for him somewhat after he finished his journey across Canada. I found some information on him from the last few years and things sounded much better for him now, and that made me very glad.

He did an amazing thing. It is an astonishing feat of endurance. He raised a lot of money for cancer research, and I don't blame him one iota if he had moments of wishing that he could have profited personally from it too. A small fraction of $13 million would go a long way in one person's life.

I liked the idea of Steve Fonyo appearing at a Terry Fox Run this year especially; I can well imagine that he wouldn't want to; I only hope that the Terry Fox people would have made him welcome and applauded his efforts to carry on with what Terry Fox started.

Steve -- I have never forgotten what you did -- I was small at the time -- I hope that you're happy and satisfied with your achievement then and your life now. You did a great thing.

Somehow, we have all reached this site....perhaps through a search engine. My ties to Steve are direct. There are stories that Steve and I have shared and been a part of through most of the run and years after. Only what you hear from the media is what you...the public,know. What you see on TV and read (edited) is, unfortunately, the only version you're able to receive. Though Steve knew this venture would get exposure...he would have never guessed that during almost every waking moment (literally)a camera would mark his every move and keep him under close scrutiny. Many people are unaware if they are able to deal with such an intense change in life style until they are exposed to it. Of course DWI and drugs are unacceptable, but they are sometimes a result. Though difficult to do...the issues need to be dealt with separately. It's obvious that his desire to succeed still drove him to the finish which was his goal. His value saved many lives, brought many smiles to cancer victims, survivors and remaining family members. He gave a dying child his last wish, and (last but not least)dedicated his own personal life...so people like you and I were/are able to have a better chance at survival in the event of being diagnosed with cancer. Keep in mind, that during the process of this Journey, Steve lost many things about himself that we all try to value. Any life that Steve deemed manageable prior to the run became unmanageable or non-existent and what he controlled was no longer possible. Perhaps it's easy for many of us to imagine a certain lifestyle that's above/beyond/below our means, but until we have experienced it, it's difficult to know if we can manage the changes. The focus here should be on the fact that the money raised has done more for YOU and I than we know. If, and I hope there never is, a day that you are given the news or someone you love is diagnosed...please know that Steve gave what he could to try and make that process a little easier and shorter for all of us (you). Now, after all these years I have not talked to Steve, but I only hope he has found a way to deal with his personal and emotional sacrifices he made for all of us (alone).

Well said and thank you.

hi steve if you read this site. hi wendy.. capt keyes is here.. i was the roadshow d.j. with steves journey for lives in G.B. he was brilliant here as well for british cancer research.. even though his struggles started over here and i could see them coming. he still got up strapped on his leg and ran through nearly every city in england.. he was so weary or depressed the longer we went some days i used to have to go to his room and gee him up myself. and he never let me down.. we had many memories together..finishing at canada house trafalgar square, london for a special party to celebrate his achievement with the high commisionaire... i got to know steve really well and somehow knew dark days were on the horizon.. and wasn"t surprised to hear his demise.. what i"m happy to hear is he is there and hopefully laughing as loud as he did with me on them long days he was running i was in the winnie bego been down with my own probs and had good mates pull me up and put me right... to all the peopple who did that to steve.. think about what he did..and be there always wish i could drink a bottle of canadian club with him again .... to you fonyo....well done many regards keysey xxxxxxxx

i was in treatment with steve a few years ago he can be a pompass ass and aregant untill you get to know him then he is a really good guy

Our heroes are not expendable.The CBC is always playing propagnda games with the public. I agree with my fellow Canadians, that Steve Fonyo accomplished an amazing feat. Something that we as Canadians should show a heart-felt sense of gratitude to him; and not try to forget he even existed. God bless you, Steve and "Thank you!!"