CREDIT: EMILY STEWART
ONERUN's executive director and founder Theresa Carriere, wearing a sweater with the new ONERUN colour in front of the logo with the previous colour. Carriere, her team, and supporters, kicked off the 2020 campaign with a new logo colour and an announcement that 10 local cancer survivors will run with her during the 100-kilometre race on June 19.

ONERUN kicked off their 2020 campaign at Palasad London South on Feb. 4, also known as World Cancer Day.

ONERUN is a local organization raising money for cancer initiatives in the area. Donations from this year will go towards ChildCAN and Wellspring.

Supporters packed the party room. They were chatting with each other and were filling up on pizza, sliders and other appetizers before the official kick off. Facts about the organization went across a slideshow prior to the announcement.


Breast cancer survivor and ONERUN’s founder and executive director Theresa Carriere has run a total of 500 kilometres, the distance from London to Perth. ONERUN participants have completed over 10,000 laps collectively. More than $1.3 million dollars have been raised over the past nine years.

Following a video highlighting ONERUN’s nine years, Carriere reflected on her journey. She read a letter she wrote to her family before her traditional Mother’s Day run in May 2008 — two years before the first ONERUN. She wrote that she would run in celebration.

“I’m celebrating that I have been cancer-free for one year. I’m celebrating because I have wonderful parents, sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews, and friends, who are all there for us to help us through a difficult and sometimes, very dark year,” she said. “I’m celebrating that I have been blessed with a loving husband and beautiful, strong children. Today’s race, and every race to follow, is a celebration of God’s love and good health.”

After reading the letter, Carriere said that giving back was the right thing to do, because she and her family received a lot of support and help from other people. ONERUN’s mandate is supporting anyone affected by any form of cancer.

“It’s our story that comes together from a lot of people who are willing to give so generously of themselves to help other families so that every family would understand that they are not alone in fighting against cancer.”

The ONERUN logo, created by graphic designer and Carriere’s niece Amanda McCallum, has a new colour to show that unity. Originally focusing on breast cancer with the colour pink, the logo is now lavender to show support for people affected by all types of cancer.

For this year’s run, 10 local cancer survivors will join Carriere by running their own 10 kilometres. Sam White, Ruth Derks, Paul Roberts, Nik Knezic, Mark Foust, Dave Hill, Carolyn Clark, Boyd Dunleavy, and Maryanne Louttit will be participating. Two national runners, British Columbia’s Gillian Roberts and Sault. Ste. Marie’s Andrea Stone, are also set to be part of ONERUN. The annual 100-kilometre race will begin at the GoodLife Fitness London headquarters on Adelaide and Oxford streets.

Several ONERUN events will occur before the June 19 ONERUN race, including the ONERIDE 100-kilometre Bike Ride at the Sherwood Forest Mall’s GoodLife on April 11. The third annual ONERUN golf tournament will be held at the Greenhills Golf and Country Club in Lambeth on June 10.

Regional high schools including Clarke Road Secondary, Parkside Collegiate Secondary, Strathroy District Collegiate Institute, and H.B. Beal Secondary, will host their ONERUN school events throughout May.

More information can be found at onerun.ca.