More than one thousand people marked Father's Day in the Capital by taking part in the Ultimate Run for Men's Cancers.
The annual event took place on a bright Sunday morning at the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum.
“It’s been a tradition now for 16 years, “said Linda Eagen, the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation President. “We’ve raised millions of dollars all of which support research and care that are taking care of the men in our lives.
The event focuses on cancers in men, including prostate, colorectal and testicular.
Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Canadian men. An estimated 23,600 men will be diagnosed with it this year, and some 4,000 men are expected to die from it.
Colorectal cancer is the 2nd leading cause of death from cancer in men. 13,500 men will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer and 5,100 will die from it.
Men are also affected by testicular cancer, which occurs most often in men between the ages of 20 and 39. It’s the most common form of cancer in men between the ages of 15 and 34.
The event featured a 2 km walk, and a 5 km, 10 km, and 15 km run.
The fundraiser also aims to raise awareness about the importance of getting tested.
“There are things we can do to control cancer, and seeing your doctor and getting tested is a very important part of it,” said Eagen. “If a cancer is diagnosed earlier, it’s much easier to treat, and the treatment itself is probably less invasive.”
This year’s run raised $200,000 for cancer care and research. It has raised $3.6 million since it began 16 years ago.
