Fanshawe cancer survivor to run alongside London youth

Header image for Interrobang article CREDIT: ANGELA MCINNES
Theresa Carriere (left), stands with ONERUN's School's Lead Kayla Sibbald (right), at St. Andre Bessett high school after getting students revved up for this year's event.

Theresa Carriere has already raised $1 million for cancer research and patient care programs in London with her non-profit organization ONERUN, but she won’t stop there.

Carriere announced she plans to complete her next annual one-day run between London and Sarnia, Ont., with local high schools student keeping up the pace at her side for each one of the 100 kilometres.

The breast cancer survivor told Interrobang the event is part of her vision to show young people that they can make the world a better place.

“Our hope this year is for the kids to experience the amazingness of ONERUN. When they see the support on the sidelines on the side of the roads, and see the people that they’re helping, they get to see first hand where our money’s going, and why we need to be out there,” Carriere said. “My hope is obviously raising money, but it’s just showing our youth that they need to be involved.”

Carriere, who is also the assistant coach of Fanshawe’s women’s basketball team, founded ONERUN in 2010 after surviving breast cancer.

The organization raised $180,000 for breast cancer research after Carriere’s first one-day hundred- kilometre run, surpassing her initial goal of $10,000.

Over the years, Carriere and her team continued to raise funds through ONERUN for Cancer Care programs offered through Wellspring London, London Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph’s Health care.

High schools across London began hosting their own events as a show of support with the launch of ONERUN Week in 2017.

ONERUN hit the million-dollar mark in 2018, with the help of 10 schools during that year’s ONERUN Week.

A total of 15 high schools in London and area will host their own events in May 2019, with teams of 10 students completing 100 kilometers in one day on their school’s racetrack.

Carriere will then do her own 100-kilometre one-day run on June 14, 2019, with the help of one student participant per kilometre.

Carriere said she draws on her own experiences, as well as those of other cancer patients, to get to the finish line.

“I think a lot of people have a lot more struggles than I do. Running a hundred kilometres is difficult and it certainly resembles your cancer journey. The only way you get through it is by the support of your friends, and we have tremendous support along the entire route,” said Carriere. “I know people struggle for years with their cancer journey so if they can manage then I can manage a little bit of stiffness in my legs.”

Carriere added that Fanshawe students, staff and faculty are welcome to help ONERUN as well.

“The Fanshawe Student Union has been a great supporter, athletics has been great, and the College itself,” she said. “The students can come out to any of our school events if they’re still around in May, and be involved and participate. We’re always looking for extra hands to help.”

To learn more about volunteering for ONERUN, or to make a donation, go to onerun.ca.