British Seagull 387 1 — — viewpoint - Tribute to a Hero—Terry Fox Volunteerism-an Old

by Ima Byrd &ome Ruy over in Slone Harbor has been practicing Hwiinmjng for most of. the summer One of the wild gulls that hangs around the.lOZnd Street beach looking for handouts sakMhis guy. Brad Harper, has already taken his chances swimmibg the English Channel Well, I can teH* you that we birds really respect people like Harper Part of fhe reason we have such respect for marathon swimmers and runners is because of a guy named Terry. Fox Fox hist his right leg to cancer four yea?* ago and died recently ai the age of / A Wild (lull and I were talking about this whole thing of mountain climbing and marathon racing. A lot Of humans are hung up oh this sort of actiiAty and as far as we ca'n tell there's nothing wrong with it We have a few birds who have flown non stop from'Osaka. Japan to Cape May Court House. New Jersey and they have our deepest and most serious admiration ’ ' . HI T FOX WAS A DIFFERENT KINO of .bird altogether I mean here’s this guy running on an artificial leg Not just running, but covering 3,339 miles in five months. • • Fox said at the time. "To me. even with the bad things, it was like a dream, like a romantic time'in my life I was still simple little Terry Fox. hut 1 felt like Dprothy In the Wizard of 1)7. People thought it was a nightmare, but I t was doing what I wanted and my dreams were coming true " There’s not many birds that do what they want to (jo and have the guts to make their dreams come true Most of us give up Just because of a broken wing or a few missihg tailfeathers But not If ox FOX W AS DETERMINED. He inspired Canadians and Americans with his courage to bring the plight of cancer . victims to the public His goal was to raise %\ million. Pox raised $24 million for cancer victims. "My struggle is hot nearly as hard as the struggle being

r ti ♦

N

CAPF. M AY il 1

4 -v

COUNTV

eraiu

I’uHIKhM Ktrrt W«lnr»iU\ H*

p n Box 0

Thr Srjontr ( orporillon

Avaloa, NJ M7V2

John II. Andrus II

Editor

William J. Adams

Advertising Director

Bonnie Rrina

General Manager

Darrrll Kopp

Publisher

INI toowot* Co-p All nghlt

All pioport* nghlt lor iho aolira

renMAit u> •*»» pubJ-tolw tSoll b« p>op»«t» o4 lh» Wma.a Co*p No part Kofojl mo* bo >»fiindu<od wiihou* P*'Oi wt.iloo too tool

DEADLINES

News li Photos

Thursday

Advertising

Fridav • 3 p.m.

< falsified Advertialng

ri*7-33l2 For News Or Advertising'Information]

Nrlther paiiklpaltAX »H*rrM«rr* nor SMI LVsTK.RN «lll be re«|*on»lh|p miaprlntv lipo«r»pliU»l rrrnrv rl

Ibr pxiMIxbrrx ol Ihr IIKH M U or llablr lor misinformation in ans Knur Tbr frill or

rjfettr* Ike rl*hl in frill any Iflirr m

ariirlrs suhmitlfrl (nr puhlii a

- I ANTrDIU - r»—‘"’LAil 1 llnll

P 0 Box WM

L Tbf Sfaxavf ('ofp«f a 1 ion

CoMSpnn*. N J

faced by hundreds of cancer patients.” he said. { Fox inspired people everywhere he went. His friend. Doug Alward, went with him. but from all reports across the nation. Fox would have done it alone if he had to. WHEN FOX DIED, all the birds in Canada and America held a memorial for him and for the couhtibss victims of that dreaded disease. There wasn’t a bii^tanywhere wifh a dry eye. becaus'e of all the things birds^iderstand and recognize, one thing they alwasy respecl“nd honor is a person or-bird with guts. Fox had guts. He wasn't a complainer. He set out to do something and he did it. He was a hero beyond all the heroes ever written up*in text books. Because he was a human being with love and compassion. Wild Gull and I didn’t remember when it was that we saw a human with so much strength. Fox faced up tp his situation which is more than most mortals or birds do "I think religion lom«f in now because I've got to sit down and face the question we all face. I’ve got to try and answer it. I guess by believing in God, you can’t lose." FOX'S PARENTS. Roily and Betty Fox of Port Coquitlam in Vancouver, must feel blessed* Their son not only helped countless cancer victims, inspired the handicapped and gave insight into life and death, but he did it with courage, understanding, compassion and a deep reverence for his very short lifetime. More than anything, he renewed our faith in man’s ability to grasp not only the meaning of his own life, but an understanding of the relationship of man to God. We birds know about things like that, but sometimes it takes a man like Terry Fox to set people thinking in the right direction. As Prime Minister Trudeau said, ”His cburage and awesome determination inspired this country as no one else has ever done.” We couldn't agree with him more, NEXT WEEK. Boxwood bounty.

by Gerald Thornton Re. Jane Ann Cunningham’s viewpoint "Cape Transportation Planning is OfMhe Tracks,” August 19; She queried "What is being done about transportation in Cape May County?" Ms. Cunnmgham implies that we (Cape May County) are not aware of the problem. The County of Capejtfay has. and will continue to address the transport^fmn issue We have instituted and piloted many inno/ative transportation projects — i.e. Fare Free buses to help the handicapped and senior populatfcm, and work pool transportation program, helping all workers in the county go to and from their employment on county-sponsored buses. REGARDING RAIL TRANSIT. Cape May and Allan tic Counties have been working together for several years to increase rail service The State of New Jersey's response to our requests have been to reduce the rail service, and a proposed 50 percent rail fare increase We recommend that the state purchase the abandoned Wildwood spur, to protect this important right-of-way We are desperately trying to save our rail transit from being discontinued. The County bikeway plan hopefully will become a

Concept ^Continues by Jane Ann Cunningham We wonder if those who own second home here appreciate the debt we all owe to volunteers. In urban areas, residents are often not accustomed to the type of voluhteering displayed in the more rural sections. Firemen: When the fire siren begins, men immediately leave \their jobs, and head for the firehouse Within minutes, the trucks are on their way to save property and lives. Neighboring communities cooperate in helping qach •other, and send trucks and men for support when needed Rescue Squads: The ambulance, witlkjts men and women volunteers, who are required to have many hours of training, not only rushes to fires, medical emergencies and accidents, but stands by when crowds are expected to congregate. Environmental groups: Thousands of pieces of dune grass are planted by volunteer children and adults along beaches to help preserve the dunes, which protect the islands. Other volunteer group beautify sections of their towns by planting flowers and shrubs. THERE ARE ACTIVE GROUPS and individuals who serve their comhiunities and their neighbors by volunteering f# hospital work, by working with young people in organized sports, scouting and 4-H and'by raising funds for many other worth causes. A special thank you should go to all the dedicated volunteer^ who spend many hours with no reward other than thefr own sense of accomplishment in knowing they have helped others. Wh«in the volunteers in your area ask for helpt support them, nqs for your benefit.’ Jane Arm-Cunlfinghom is former publisher 'of the Herald.

reality with the first leg going from Cape May Point to Cape May along Sunset Blvd. We have supported a park and ride project at Exit 25. Garden f>tatc r Parkway fof commuters. SEVERAL YEARS AGO. I opposed an $860 milljon bond issue for transportation because it did not allocate transportation money to Cape May County. The State of j.New Jersey spent $139 million for new buses and equipment without Cape May County being considered. New Jersey Dept of Transportation has promised monthly that we would receive ttfo vehicles for the handicapped »jince 1978! wl will agree that public transporation in Cape May County is a joke. I disagree that politicians, planners and local ffovernmertts afe spinning the wheels on all transportation problems. The County of Cape May has consistently.requested transportation aid from all higher levels of government. . Inadequate rail service will continue until the public demands that the future needs of South Jersey be formulated mote equitably. Gerald Thornton of Villas is vice director of the County Board of Freeholders

reader's forum 3 County on Top of Transportation Needs