On the run
Family of woman who battled cancer are participating in Bum Run 2024 to raise money in her honour
When Theresa Fielding was battling cancer, she didn’t have to fight alone.
The Colchester County woman who enjoyed spending time at her cottage in Pictou County knew that if she had a question or was simply having a bad day all she had to do was pick up the phone.
At the other end of the line would be Filomena Servidioitaliano, President and CEO of Colorectal Cancer Resource and Action Network (CCRAN), ready to listen and offer advice.
“The tremendous support she got from CCRAN blew us away,” says Mike Fielding, Theresa’s husband.
Theresa passed away in Sept. 2022, but her family and friends are still grateful for the support she received and are doing everything they can to give back by continuing to fundraise for CCRAN through the annual Bum Run
under the team name Theresa’s Beach Bums.
RUNNING WITH A CAUSE
The Bum Run is a charity founded with the goal of raising awareness about colon cancer screening. Bum Run funds go toward increasing awareness of how common colon cancer is today and encouraging early screening. Proceeds from the Halifax Bum Run go to CCRAN.
Last year Mike and his team were able to fundraise approximately $11,000 for CCRAN, continuing the legacy Theresa left and this year he has set a goal of getting $10,000
Helping with the fundraising efforts is Dana Cameron, Theresa’s brother-in-law, who lives in Toney River.
Like Mike, he is grateful for the support CCRAN showed to Theresa and wants to enable them to help others.
“These people have the answers for people in need,” he said. “It’s so personalized
as well. They’re like your best friends.”
Last year Dana said he had a great response from people in Pictou County who were willing to listen and donate and he’s hopeful they’ll once again show their support by donating to the cause. As part of his fundraising efforts, he will be selling tickets for a chance to win a wooden birdhouse or decorative buoy. All the proceeds from those sales will go directly to the Bum Run fundraiser for CCRAN.
He will be setting up in various locations to sell the tickets and anyone with a spot he can set up is encouraged to contact him by calling 902-890-1923. Tickets will be drawn on the day of the Bum Run on May 25, 2024. There will be two winners of buoys and two winners of birdhouses.
“Our big goal is to be able to help our friends and help others get this information about this resource and this action network of CCRAN.”
A VITAL RESOURCE
Filomena says she is grateful for the continued efforts of Theresa’s family.
“It warms my heart to watch them honour her in this way and it is a breath of fresh air.”
Filomena was the main contact at CCRAN for Theresa and they became close friends over the years.
“We became quite close, which is why her loss was a personal loss to me,” she said.
Even in the midst of her own fight, Theresa was thinking about others, Filomena said.
“She was so passionate about Bum Run and about fundraising for CCRAN but also about raising awareness through the Bum Run.”
Studies show that 90 percent of colorectal cancers are treatable if detected early enough.
“If we can just raise this awareness it will mean a world of difference to Canadians
undergoing this journey early on.”
Money CCRAN receives from the Bum Run will go to their patient programs to ensure patients are well supported and informed.
“We don’t want our patients to undergo a journey feeling that sense of isolation,” Filomena said. “We want our patients to feel as though they have someone on their side who can provide them with evidence-based information that can improve two things: number one, longevity and number two, quality of life.”
To learn more about the Bum Run visit bumrun.com and to learn more about CCRAN visit https://www. ccran.org/. To make a donation to Theresa’s Beach Bums visit https://raceroster.com/ events/2024/80010/bumrunhalifax-2024/pledge/team/4.
Those interested in making a donation can also call Mike at 902-890-5619 or Dana at 902-890-1923.