Allison De Luisa, who is undergoing treatments after being diagnosed with breast cancer less than two months ago, was flanked by more than 40 supporters at the Canadian Cancer Society’s CIBC Run for the Cure Oct. 2.
“Team Allison” raised more than $9,000 for breast cancer research.
De Luisa, who’s Cambrian College’s vice-president of student services and human resources, said it “means everything” to have the support of her friends, family and colleagues.
“When you get diagnosed with cancer, a lot goes through your mind,” she said.
“And in my mind, there's two things that are so critical in terms of our recovery. And No. 1 is community. So you look at this community, and you look at those people that support us with cancer, it means everything. I want to thank Team Allison that is here. They have raised so much money. It is unbelievable, your generosity. I can't even describe how grateful I am.”
De Luisa said her mother-in-law died from breast cancer 23 years ago, but the experience she’s having during her own treatments is far different. “It's because of the researchers and the incredible, incredible medical community,” she said.
The 2022 Sudbury Run for the Cure event saw more than 300 people register, and raised more than $50,000. Starting on the Cambrian College campus, participants were invited to walk or run either one or five kilometres.
After an interruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Run for the Cure returned to its normal format for the first time since 2019.
As the largest nationwide volunteer-led initiative in support of breast cancer, the event raises funds for groundbreaking research, support programs and advocacy efforts to ensure people affected by breast cancer live longer, healthier lives.
“Since the event began in 1992, the run has raised more than $480 million, and that's because of you guys,” said Kelly MacNaull, strategic marketing and event director with the Canadian Cancer Society.
“So thanks to those funds, we know more than ever before how to prevent, diagnose and treat breast cancer. And because of this collective focus and investment in breast cancer research, the five year survival rate for breast cancer has improved.
“Today, 89 per cent of women and 80 per cent of men with breast cancer survive at least five years past their diagnosis. This is why we run.”
One of the guest speakers at the event was Dr. Lacey Pitre, a medical oncologist with the Northeast Cancer Centre and a breast cancer researcher with the Health Sciences North Research Institute.
She said her mom underwent breast cancer treatments 15 years ago, and this is what inspired Pitre, “a Valley girl who’d never had a doctor in her family, pursue a career in medicine …
“I'm very grateful to the organizers of CIBC Run for the Cure and the Canadian Cancer Society for their support of breast cancer research here and across Canada, as it is truly a pan Canadian effort to design, recruit and analyze and implement breast cancer research,” Pitre added.
“We have breast cancer clinical trials here in Sudbury, and we're using the output of clinical trials every single day. And in fact, over the last four months, we've implemented three new breast cancer drugs to help keep cancer patients alive, longer, alive better, and here to be with their families.”
Heidi Ulrichsen in Sudbury.com’s associate content editor. She also covers education and the arts scene.
