The 2023 Terry Fox Humanitarian Award scholarship has been granted to a student from Calgary.

“For myself, and the many other Canadians with disabilities, our lives are shaped by the lasting legacy of Terry Fox, the most famous disabled person in Canadian history,”

Rhea Bhalla, a student from Calgary, has been selected as one of only 15 individuals across the country to be awarded the esteemed Terry Fox Humanitarian Award scholarship. Valued at a maximum of $28,000, this award recognizes outstanding young scholars who have triumphed over personal challenges, made a positive impact in a critical area of need, and excelled both academically and athletically.

Despite being born with a speech disability that left her mute for the first decade of her life, Bhalla has become a passionate advocate for the disabled community. She has founded support groups at both the national and regional levels, led workshops, written research papers, earned recognition at the Canada-wide Science Fair, and even served as the president of her high school’s science club. In addition to all of these impressive accomplishments, she also volunteers regularly at a local nursing home.

As the sole recipient of this award from her region, Bhalla is a shining example of the determination and dedication required to make a real difference in the world.

“In bringing awareness to the disabled community while facing immense challenges, Terry Fox redefined societal views on persons with disabilities. His achievements set the foundation for many others to break down the social and institutional barriers limiting persons with disabilities. By following in the footsteps of Terry Fox, I hope to continue the work (that is) so vital to helping our community flourish. In the future, my dedication to working with people with disabilities will guide my work as a physician committed to serving disabled patients.”

After being granted the Terry Fox Humanitarian Award scholarship, Bhalla has set her sights on attending the University of Manitoba to pursue a career in the medical field.

The Terry Fox Humanitarian Award Program was established to honor the legacy of Terry Fox, and according to the program’s leader, each of the 15 scholarship recipients embodies the essence of Fox’s remarkable character in some form or fashion.

“In them, Terry’s legacy as a humanitarian and inspiration to others continues to better this country,” said Paulina Chow-White, the executive director of the award program. “Like Terry, these students respond to the needs of others and commit their efforts to benefiting society. We are very honoured to contribute to their journeys as they pursue their first degrees and beyond.”