Hope was enough to draw 670 participants to Sunday’s Canadian Cancer Society CIBC Run for the Cure for Barrie and Orillia at this city’s waterfront.
Hannah McEdwards of Wasaga Beach, an 11-year survivor of stage four breast cancer, has been coming to the run since 2012.
“It reminds people there is hope. Breast cancer is becoming more and more treatable,” she said. “We still lose way too many women from this. And men for that matter.
“Events like this bring hope.”
The 25th annual run, which started and ended at Barrie’s Heritage Park, raised $217,432.
Natalie Wild of the Canadian Cancer Society lost her husband to cancer in early 2022, just before this 49th birthday.
“With one-in-eight women diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, we all have a reason to run,” she told the crowd from the Meridian Place stage. “You are all changing the future of breast cancer.”
Money raised goes to research, as well as specialized equipment and to support people who are fighting cancer or recently diagnosed. This includes supplying rides to appointments, meals and different therapy sessions.
Sunday’s run featured a five-kilometre course for runners, and one-kilometre course for everyone else.
“I’m going to try for the five, but I recently due to the cancer have lost a disc in my spine,” McEdwards said. “So I’m going to try. That’s all I can say.”
Those who raised funds for the cause were honoured before the run.
Esther Sabet raised the most, $12,176.50, followed by Adela Peddigrew at $10,118.40 and Denise Beeby at $7,332.30.
Next year’s local CIBC Run for the Cure is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024.
