Cancer survivor runs ninth year for cure

Header image for Interrobang article CREDIT: LONDON CAMERA CLUB
Theresa Carriere (centre) greets a supportive crowd during her run from London to Sarnia Ont.

Almost everyone knows someone who has been affected by cancer. For ONERUN founder Theresa Carriere, it was herself and the many people she met along the way of her survivor journey.

ONERUN is an annual run where Carriere runs 100 kilometres from London to Sarnia Ont. in one day. This year, her own run will take place on June 14.

Carriere started the run back in 2010. Over the past few years, she has also had local high schools and their feeder schools involved in the weeks leading up to her run. Up to 15 secondary schools participated in 2019, making it the largest ONERUN campaign yet.

“It certainly is a blessing to be a part of something that is so positive and so warming,” Carriere said of including the young students.

In April 2007, Carriere went in for a mammogram, despite being under the age of 50 and with no history of breast cancer.

“I always say that I was very blessed that they caught it early enough, it was just by chance that they found the cancer,” she said.

In 2010, ONERUN raised $180,000 for breast cancer research after Carriere’s first one-day hundred- kilometre run, exceeding her original goal of $10,000. By 2018, Carriere had raised over $1 million for cancer research and care programs.

“As a survivor, I knew how important it was to know that there are people around that were there to support you. I was very fortunate in having lots of people in my life that were there. But, I know not everybody has that luxury. I wanted people who felt alone to know that they weren’t alone,” said Carriere.

Carriere said that ONERUN has given community members the support and encouragement to keep fighting cancer. She added that using the hashtag #Running- ForYourSomeone has inspired many to come out and participate.

“I’m overwhelmed by the lives that ONERUN has been able to touch,” said Carriere. “That’s why we’ve been able to continue for nine years. It’s because we have been able to understand the impact that schools are making, that any of the community members that have supported us.”

London and area high schools participated in ONERUN during the month of May. Teams of staff and students completed 100 kilometres around the track throughout their school day.

“Our motivation now is to encourage youth to be an active part of their community,” said Carriere.

ONERUN is always on the lookout for volunteers, as the campaign encourages post-secondary students who don’t have the funds to donate to help with the event.

All money raised will be donated to cancer patient care programs offered through Wellspring London, London Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph’s Health Care. Carriere hopes to raise over $200,000 this year.