Inspired fundraisers support Run for the Cure

Despite the drizzle, roughly 200 people — most adorned in pink — ran or walked on Sunday morning to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer.

This year’s CIBC Run for the Cure, which was put on by the Canadian Cancer Society, kicked off at Assiniboine College at 1430 Victoria Ave. East.

Delores Hessian, 58, has taken part in Brandon’s Run for the Cure since 2021, but this year will be the first without her sister, Michele, who died of breast cancer at 51 years old in January.

Hessian said Michele was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020, and after receiving a clean bill of health, she was re-diagnosed with incurable Stage 4 breast cancer two years later.

“She decided then that she was making it her passion to raise as much money for breast cancer as she could, so somebody didn’t have to walk in her shoes or our shoes,” Hessian said with tears in her eyes.

After last year’s run, Michele made the goal to raise $6,000 as a team. After she died, Michele’s family made it their “mission” to reach her goal.

Michele’s Breast Friends Forever topped Brandon’s team leaderboard this year, raising more than $9,000.

“Some days are very emotional … being this is the first one that she’s not with us,” Hessian said. “But we’re doing it as a family.”

Hessian was joined by friends and family of herself and Michele and said she was “enthralled” to surpass her sister’s fundraising goal.

Michele’s Breast Friends Forever wasn’t the only team that raised a large chunk of change.

The Waves of Hope, which is a breast cancer survivor dragon boat team based in Westman, raised more than $3,500.

Marcy Goetz, 47, said Waves of Hope is what brought her to this year’s Run for the Cure.

When Goetz was diagnosed with breast cancer in January of 2024, she said it was a wake-up call.

“It was pretty scary. I thought that cancer was for people older than me,” Goetz said.

After receiving chemotherapy and undergoing a mastectomy, Goetz was told she was cancer-free in July that same year, but she said life didn’t just return to normal.

“Once you’ve finished your cancer treatment, people just think it ends there and life just goes on — and it does, but there’s also a fear of recurrence,” she said.

Goetz said joining Waves of Hope has been inspiring for her and showed her that there is life after cancer.

The team’s roster includes “active paddlers” who are breast cancer survivors and a support team made up of people who may or may not be survivors, according to the team’s website.

“These women show me every day that cancer doesn’t have to stop you, and you can continue to live and do amazing things,” Goetz said.

She said events like Sunday’s are important to raise awareness around breast cancer, support people who are going through cancer and raise money for research.

Shital Maisuria, 35, shared her story with participants and volunteers ahead of the run.

Maisuria was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer in 2020 and said she was at a loss for words when she first got the call.

She described the next six months of her life as a nightmare and said she began to isolate herself. Not long after receiving treatment, she said her parents died of COVID.

She said the Canadian Cancer Society was “truly a blessing” in her life.

“Without the support and guidance from the Canadian Cancer Society, I don’t know that I would have survived,” Maisuria said. “The Cancer Society gave me my hope. The Cancer Society gave me a second chance.”

Maisuria told the crowd to enjoy each and every moment of life because you never know what tomorrow might bring.

Ashley MacDonald, who is Brandon’s Run for the Cure director, said the money raised nationally will be allocated to different centres that are completing breast cancer research.

“The primary goal is to spread awareness, raise funds and support individuals throughout their cancer journey, and that extends to the families that support individuals who are at different stages of their journey,” MacDonald said.

MacDonald said this year’s run has raised $57,000 so far, adding that people can continue to donate until the end of the calendar year.

“Any dollar raised, we’re thrilled that we’re able to give back,” she said. “We’re really thankful for the participants that came out … It’s a pretty dreary day, but that didn’t shake our participants.”

The CIBC Run for the Cure events are held in more than 50 communities across Canada and feature both one-kilometre and five-kilometre distance options.

» sanderson@brandonsun.com