By Luke Barry | Mar. 18, 2021
On April 12, 1980, after dipping his right leg in the Atlantic Ocean, Winnipeg’s Terry Fox set out on his iconic Marathon of Hope.
In the early morning hours of September 22, 2021, Trepassey natives Charles Luther and Melvin Sutton will begin a journey of similar spirit dubbed Runnin’ Home, their own version of bipedal cancer fundraising.
And while much has changed in four decades, the prevalence of cancer in society remains.
Nearly one in two Canadians are expected to receive a diagnosis of cancer in their lifetime, according to a report on projected cancer rates published in March 2020 in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
To raise awareness and funds, the duo from up the shore plan to run 147 kilometres from Mile One Centre in St. John’s to Stella Maris Academy in Trepassey.
The real kicker is they plan to complete it in two or three days.
“I always wanted to do something, and I’m getting older and noticing more people being affected by cancer, my family members, my friends, I just felt the need,” Luther said. “I’ve got to go out and get it (done) while I can.”
Training diligently since April 2020, the 38-year-old has been knocking out between 100 and 120 kilometres per week, which sometimes sees him running twice a day.
After hearing word of Luther’s idea, Sutton admits he didn’t want the opportunity to pass him by.
“Over the years I’d run the Tely Ten, but I’d only run in the spring and summer months and that was kind of enough,” Sutton said. “I’d do weight training in the winter, but I’d do no cardio, so this kind of put me in a spot where it’s time to get a treadmill and time to run all year round if I’m going to actually do this because you got to be ready for it right?
“My father-in-law died of lung cancer, and you know what, there’s a list of that. Everywhere you turn it’s there you know? It’s obviously a great cause and it drives you a bit more.”
The route will see the men ascend and descend more than 1,200m while running an ultramarathon each day along the Irish Loop.
“In Canada, there’s been an estimated 225,800 new cancer cases last year in 2020,” Elizabeth Holmes, Senior Manager of Policy and Surveillance at the Canadian Cancer Society, said. “In Newfoundland and Labrador, we estimate that at about 3,800 new cancer cases and 1,600 cancer deaths in 2020.”
The donations Luther and Sutton are raising will go to Daffodil Place, a 24-room facility operated by the Canadian Cancer Society-NL Division for cancer patients and caregivers who must travel to St. John’s for cancer related appointments.
“Together we are bigger than cancer and the Canadian Cancer Society is here for you,” Holmes said. “If you have been diagnosed with cancer, if you know somebody who has, if you just have questions about your cancer risk, then you can give us a call on our cancer information healthline at 1-888-939-3333 and one of our information specialists can help you with navigating the information and understanding information that’s been provided to you.”
Email options and a chat function are available on www.cancer.ca in addition to an online community found at www.cancerconnection.ca, a website designed to provide people, caregivers and survivors with support during their cancer journey.
Young Adult Cancer Canada (www.yacc.ca) is a national organization started by Geoff Eaton in St. John’s specifically geared towards providing young adults with inspiration, information and support.
Efforts that advance the research, prevention, screening and treatment of cancer are vital to addressing its burden in Canada.
Online donations in support of Runnin’ Home can be made via the page Luther set up through the Canadian Cancer Society. It’s located at https://support.cancer.ca/site/TR/IFE_NL_Event/IFE_NL_General_?px=13410714&pg=personal&fr_id=27158.
