Thousands of participants gathered in Toronto on Sunday to mark the 10th anniversary of The Princess Margaret Journey to Conquer Cancer.
People of all ages, some joined by their dogs, could walk or run distances of 1K, 3K, or 5K in order to raise funds to fight cancer.
The event started and finished the race at Varsity Stadium on Bloor Street West.
Meenu Sangha was one of the participants who decided to walk 1K for the event.
“I have participated in memory of my mother-in-law who battled cancer until her passing in May 2020” Sangha said. “I am grateful to have contributed, even in the smallest way to raising funds for the research centre.”
Natalie Desimini, from Toronto, sported a sticker on her back that read, “I’m participating for mom.”
“My mother was diagnosed with a rare form of melanoma called Merkel a year ago,” Desimini said. “She received treatment at The Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, but despite her incredible fight, she sadly passed away in February of this year.”
“Today, I am here to show my support for research on rare forms of melanoma, such as Merkel,” she said. “My hope is that in the near future, there will be dedicated clinical trials focused on Merkel, leading us closer to finding a potential cure for this rare disease.”
“We are here today because many of us have felt the profound pain of losing loved ones to cancer or are personally facing the challenges of cancer as patients or supporters, said Miyo Yamashita, President & CEO of The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation.
“Over the last decade, we have seen remarkable progress. The foundation has raised nearly $14 million for cancer research,” said Yamashita
“Our united mission is to advance progress and revolutionize cancer outcomes at the centre, and it is your invaluable contributions today that enable this transformative journey.”
The routes of the event included stops at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and along the way, there was music for participants from groups like tunes of Rusholme, a Toronto-based indie pop rock band.