WHITEWATER REGION (Foresters Falls) — The sun may not have been shining on Saturday, but that didn’t stop more than 700 people from participating in the Git’Er Done Mud Run hosted by the Renfrew County Canadian Cancer Society and held at Wilderness Tours.
Prior to the start of the run at 9 a.m., honourary survivor Desiree Crevier told her story.
Discovers lump
Two weeks shy of her 35th birthday, Ms. Crevier was reading an article about a 35-year-old woman who found out she had breast cancer. Realizing she was the same age, she decided to perform a breast self-examination.
“It didn’t take me long to find a very noticeable lump,” she told those gathered for the run, including her husband, children and friends.
After getting her children off to school the next morning, she drove to the hospital and underwent an ultrasound and biopsy, but not a mammogram, because she was too young. She was told she only had a three percent chance the lump would be cancerous.
But, she insisted and underwent a mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy. But, she remained optimistic, and wasn’t concerned, because she was too young to have breast cancer.
But, her worst fears were realized, when her doctor told her the news.
“It’s a day I will never forget,” she said, her voice choking, as she tried to hold back her tears. “I was feeling numb and scared for my future.”
Next was a meeting with a surgeon who gave her the option of a single or double mastectomy. Not wanting to risk battling the disease twice, Ms. Crevier opted for a double mastectomy.
“After that, things moved fast,” she said. “Two weeks later I had the double mastectomy and lymph node dissection.”
Ms. Crevier then hosted a head shaving party instead of waiting for the chemo drugs she would take to cause her hair to fall out.
“All my children, husband and best friend shaved it for me,” she said. “It was a day of celebration instead of tears. There was a lot of laughter.”
Ms. Crevier noted her children were a huge part of her journey.
“They experienced and saw things that no kid should have to at their ages,” she said. “They would come with me to my chemo teach classes, they would help give me my needle injections post chemo, when I needed my pic line flushed they would hold my hand.
“Never once did they ever complain.”
Trying to hide a smile, she did admit her children complained when she had to spend six weeks in Ottawa for radiation treatments, “…because they would have to eat daddy’s cooking.”
While it was great to be with family and friends, Ms. Crevier said her best experience throughout the cancer journey was while she was in Ottawa.
“I got to be around people who knew what I was going through,” she recalled. “They all inspired me with their strength and courage. Through that experience I made bonds that I know will last a life time.”
Ms. Crevier is cancer free, but when she has a bad day, she worries that cancer may come back.
In front of the crowd, Ms. Crevier thanked her husband, Roger.
“…thank my husband who would never leave my side or miss an appointment,” she said. “Who has looked at me pale, bald and weak and told me that I looked beautiful. He was someone who, whether he knows it or not, gave me great memories during a not so great time and the strength to fight this.”
She thanked her six children who gave her the biggest reasons to never stop fighting and her friends who became like family who stepped up and supported her.
Ms. Crevier also thanked the Canadian Cancer Society “for giving everyone this opportunity to celebrate, remember and fight back as we make a difference in a battle against breast cancer.
“So, whether you are a newly diagnosed patient, a long-time survivor or a caregiver whose loved one is at this event or in your heart, please join me in celebrating the world with less cancer and more birthdays. We are making a difference by bringing more awareness to this disease.”
Just before leaving the stage, Ms. Crevier encouraged everyone to do breast self-examinations.
“Don’t be afraid of what you’re going to find, be afraid of what you won’t find if you don’t look.”
On stage throughout the day was Lana Gorr, a community engagement specialist with the Canadian Cancer Society and Lisa Lance, 2018 chair for the mud run.
“The Canadian Cancer Society is a nationally community-based organization of volunteers whose mission is the eradication of cancer and the enhancement of the quality of life of people living with cancer,” Ms. Gorr said.
The money raised at the mud run will be used for various programs, including peer-to-peer and support programs, wheels of hope transportation program and weight program.
Dr. Cathy McCarthy, vice-president of research development for Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, the sponsor of the event, thanked the many people and volunteers.
For more than 18 years, CNL has been supporting various cancer society events, she said.
“We at CNL pride ourselves in being involved in local events,” Dr. McCarthy said. “It’s an important part of what we do. In this particular case, this event hits close to home for many of our employees and their families.”
Most people have been affected in some way by cancer, she said, adding, cancer doesn’t discriminate.
Ms. Gorr also presented three people with national awards from 2017. Celebrating impact and revenue was the 2017 Git’Er Done Mud Run committee, which raised $80,000 last year.
Celebrating impact and community operations was presented to Chantal Cormier, a volunteer from 2017 who gave a lot of her time.
The final award was presented to a Relay for Life team that has been great fundraisers over the years and raised more than $35,000 — Team Skunky represented by Patty Hanson.
For the next several hours, about 20 minutes apart, teams were called to the start line, their photos taken and they were counted down to take-off on the six-kilometre, 18-obstacle course.
First to cross the finish line was Anthony Turner of Waltham, Quebec and Kim Duff.
At noon, the Muddy Buddy race for youngsters occurred. Close to 100 children participated in a smaller version of the adult challenge, which saw them climb, slide, crawl and jump over and through various obstacles.
