When Helen deBruyckere was diagnosed with hairy cell leukemia almost 29 years ago, doctors told her the best they could do was remove her spleen and hope for the best. They didn’t have an established treatment for the kind of cancer she had. To Helen’s relief, having her spleen removed stopped the cancer, but she said that if it came back tomorrow, doctors would now have a treatment for it.
“This is the progress that has been made in cancer research,” she said.
One major supporter of cancer research has been the Terry Fox Foundation. The foundation was established in 1980 when Fox began his Marathon of Hope, an attempt to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research. During the past 31 years of Terry Fox Runs, the foundation has raised over $550 million. Powell River alone has raised $270,000 since local runs began in 1986.
Local oraganizer Ted Rodonets said that the foundation supports a lot of cancer research that’s happening in British Columbia and foundation administrators are proud that a high percentage of donated money actually goes toward research. “Eighty-five cents per dollar donated goes to research,” said Rodonets, who has been involved with organizing Powell River runs since 1988. “I quietly challenge any organization to do better than that.”
Last June, Helen’s husband Harley, a retired RCMP officer, also had a brush with the disease, but in Harley’s case doctors at Vancouver General Hospital moved quickly to extract the tumor and his severely damaged kidney.
“There’s more people than you think walking around with one kidney,” he said.
Doctors used a minimally invasive surgical technique to remove the tumor and kidney leaving Harley with only a few small scars. No small feat considering that not so long ago doctors would have had to make a long incision on his abdomen increasing both risk of infection and healing time. Harley spent only three days in hospital and was up walking around not long after. To his relief, post-operation tests results showed his tumor margin cancer-free.
“The research and medical technology that doctors have access to now is just amazing,” he said.
Cancer researchers continue to explore new dimensions of the disease. According to the foundation, researchers have made recent progress in important areas. They’ve been able to trick resistant cancer cells into committing suicide, locate a gene that can act as a brake on breast cancer, treat leukemia with an antibiotic and discover a genetic link between certain rare kinds of cancer.
“If it wasn’t for the Terry Fox Foundation, many cancer researchers wouldn’t have the funds they need to continue discovering new ways to fight this disease,” said Helen.
Improvements in early cancer diagnoses, medical technology and cancer research are all making cancer a more beatable disease, but progress is expensive, so the foundation continues to host annual runs and raise money.
Over 400 local participants are expected to lace up their runners in an effort to outrun cancer for the 32nd Terry Fox Run on Sunday, September 16. Participants are invited to run, walk or cycle either a 10 or a 3.5 kilometre route, both of which start from the Powell River Recreation Complex at 10 am. Registration for the race begins at 8:30 am, though participants may also register and submit their pledges online. There is no registration fee and no minimum pledge for the run. A pancake breakfast provided by Save On Foods will follow the run.
“To me it’s an opportunity for the community to get together,” Rodonets said, “We’re the right size. It’s great to see people sitting down after the run for some pancakes and then the conversations begin.”
About 60 per cent of the funds raised from the Terry Fox Run comes from school runs. Rodonets wants to remind people that they shouldn’t feel like they need to give more money on the run day if they’ve already supported children for a school run. Supporters can make donations at any time online, through social media or even with cell phones.
“There’s something poignant about the impact of his marathon run,” said Rodonets, thinking about Fox’s legacy. “He was a real Canadian kid. He wasn’t trying to be a superstar.”
Helen and Harley are being honoured this year as members of Terry’s Team, people who exemplify Fox’s courage and determination.
More information about the event or how to make donations to the Terry Fox Foundation can be found at www.terryfox.org or by contacting Rodonets at 604.485.9238
