Childhood cancer treatment inspires Ottawa woman's half-marathon fundraiser
Six months of hard work is about to pay off for Jill Barr as she gets ready to run her first half-marathon.
"I've always been an athlete. I played varsity volleyball in university and now that I've retired from that, I'm always kind of searching for that competitive outlet," said Barr.
She's one of thousands training for Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend. For her, it's personal.
- Sign up now for daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
She and her team are raising money for the Ottawa Hospital, where she was treated for ovarian cancer when she was 11 years old.
"I went there for my first radiation treatment," said Barr. "They could sense I was a little bit nervous, so they actually gave me a little plasma car, which is a little scooter bike that I could ride from the entranceway down to the radiation centre, and I have a very fond memory of that. It goes to show how focused the Ottawa Hospital is on patient care."
It's stories like Barr's that are motivating eager participants picking up their race kits ahead of the big day.
"You think of the Ottawa Race Weekend and you think of just the runners, and you watch the elites and you maybe have some friends and family, and then when you get to the stories behind why some people are running, it really makes the event seem so much bigger than the race," said Run Ottawa executive director Mike Vieira.
The event is celebrating 50 years and it's also a big year for 98 charities with a goal to raise more than $1 million.
This weekend will welcome more than 37,000 participants — 10,000 more than last year — including some elite athletes introduced by CTV's Leah Larocque on Friday, who is herself and accomplished marathoner.
"There's over $1 million this year that we're hoping to raise," said Vieira. "We've raised over $5 million over the past five years. So, in terms of charities in Ottawa, this is one of the big fundraisers for many charities by far."
Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe will be running the marathon, helping raise funds for Dhanushka Wickramasinghe, the father and husband of the Barrhaven homicide victims.
As for Barr, her team has raised closed to $5,000 for the Ottawa Hospital Foundation.
"There is kind of a community responsibility to come together and raise that extra money so we can get the best health care possible in the city of Ottawa," said Barr.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6972157.1721587842!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
BREAKING NEWS Joe Biden drops out of 2024 race, endorses Kamala Harris to be Democratic nominee
U.S. President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 race for the White House on Sunday, ending his bid for re-election after a disastrous debate with Donald Trump that raised doubts about the incumbent's fitness for office with the election just four months away. It was a late-season campaign thunderstrike unlike any in American history.
What happens next: Joe Biden wants to pass the baton to Kamala Harris. Here's how that might work
With U.S. President Joe Biden ending his re-election bid and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris, Democrats now must navigate a shift that is unprecedented this late in an election year.
Joe Biden: Trudeau reacts to news Biden won't run for re-election
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded to the news that U.S. President Joe Biden won’t run for re-election Sunday, calling Biden a 'true friend.'
Harris, endorsed by Biden, could become first woman, second Black person to be U.S. president
Kamala Harris could become the first Black woman to head a major U.S. party presidential ticket after U.S. President Joe Biden abruptly ended his re-election bid and endorsed her.
Read Biden's full text announcing the end to his re-election campaign
U.S. President Joe Biden ended his re-election campaign on Sunday after fellow Democrats lost faith in his mental acuity and ability to beat Donald Trump. He announced his decision in a letter posted on social media. Read the full text.
LCBO workers ratify tentative agreement, strike ends Monday
The union representing 10,000 workers at the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) has ratified a tentative agreement, which will officially end its two-week strike at 12:01 a.m. Monday.
Joy in Newfoundland after 'Lucky 7' fishers survive harrowing days lost at sea
There was a powerful word being repeated in the joyful Newfoundland community of New-Wes-Valley on Sunday: 'Miracle.'
A 12-year-old girl is accused of smothering her younger cousin over an iPhone
A 12-year-old girl in Tennessee has been charged with murder, accused of smothering her eight-year-old cousin as the younger girl slept. A relative said they had been arguing over an iPhone.
Trudeau and family head to British Columbia for vacation in unnamed location
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will head to British Columbia on Sunday, where he will be on vacation with his family until Aug. 1.