Turquoise cap leads the way for Tecumseh Terry Fox Run

A sea of red shirts crashed out of Green Acres Optimist Park to cheers and happy tears. In the red wave were a number of yellow sunflowers — and one bright turquoise cap.

That turquoise cap in the sea of red belonged to Shannon Kadar, participating in the annual Terry Fox Run in Tecumseh, Ont., now in its 24th year.

Much like Fox, Kadar was out there, not only running to raise money but also while fighting cancer.

Kadar’s cap is the colour representing ovarian cancer. At 41, Kadar was not expecting to be taking part in this fight but said she was glad her cancer was found early.

“We didn’t suspect cancer at all,” Kadar said. “It was found completely by surprise.”

Kadar’s cancer was caught while in a late form of Stage 1 cancer, called Stage 1C. While she has gone for surgery twice, she is now on chemotherapy. 

According to the Canadian Cancer Society, chemotherapy can have a number of side effects on the body including fatigue, nausea, hair loss and pain that can persist for weeks or longer following a chemotherapy treatment.

Kadar had done her latest treatment less than a week before the run.

At the start of the run Kadar was given a red t-shirt by Carol Bulych, the committee member in charge of the survivor walk. The shirt, bearing the Terry Fox Run logo, is given to anyone who has survived or is currently battling cancer. Bulych said survivors lead the walk to be an example of strength — but also to show they have people behind them all the way.

“We really want people to know there is hope,” Bulych said. “You have a lot of people who love you and support you through this challenge.”

Kadar had her own team of supporters there to help her but on the day of the run said she was inspired by Terry Fox’s resilience and used it to help push herself forward.

“There’s no age limit to cancer,” said Kadar. “We battle it every stage of the game.”