By Staff
August 26th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
The annual Terry Fox Run for cancer research takes place on September 15th this year.
The people who do the research work to find cures for cancer have made some significant progress.
That’s what Dr. John Goffin, an oncologist at the Juravinski Cancer Centre in Hamilton, Ontario, had to say about his job. “While treating cancer patients might seem hard, John is inspired by each and every one of them. While he mentions the laughs, he of course acknowledges the tears. You see the full range of human emotions at the Cancer Centre.
“You might be surprised how much we laugh together in the clinic.”
“Many system-related aspects of health care are dreadful at the moment. But the human aspect does not change, and I am repeatedly encouraged by the acts of love and the generous patience shown by patients and their loved ones.”
If you’re a returning Terry Foxer, you might remember Dr. Goffin from the 2022 event. He spoke to us when we Here is what Dr. Goffin kicked off our run in the morning. If you were fortunate enough to catch that, you will remember his drive and his passion for this cause.
Dr. Goffin said at the time:
Dr. John Goffin
“When we returned to Canada from Boston in 2006, I wanted to do something useful for the cause,” he said. “It just felt natural to run for Terry Fox. It is not cliché to say that he is a hero. He is easily and immediately associated with fighting cancer. As for why I do this every year, there are three reasons. First, there’s a lot of work to do on cancer control, and that work is expensive. Second, the Terry Fox Foundation is efficient, with minimal overhead per dollar raised. Third, I commend the Foundation for its ability to communicate with and encourage fundraisers. Not every charity is as adept at maintaining momentum.”
Can We Find a Cure?
While we all love to run and walk along Burlington’s gorgeous waterfront on a beautiful day, the Terry Fox run is more than a fun run. There’s a goal and a purpose: to fund cancer research. Unlike many of us, Dr. Goffin is uniquely positioned to see our
“Will we ever cure cancer? On an individual basis, we are doing this more frequently” said John. “At a population level, we may one day get to the point where cancer is just another chronic, controlled disease for pretty much everybody who gets it. The advancements in the genetic and molecular understanding of cancer are progressing in leaps and bounds, but the tools to take advantage of that understanding will take time to develop. I’ll be frank. I know that raising tens, hundreds, or a few thousand dollars can feel like a drop in the bucket. But that’s the amazing thing about the Terry Fox Run. We are not one person. Not one drop. We are all of us an ocean, and together, we will erode and destroy the rock that is cancer.”
This goes back to the core of what Terry Fox himself imagined. He knew that just as one man he could do very little, which is why he had to create a movement that would get others involved. A dollar for every Canadian. Together, as we raise our fundraising dollars, we are contributing to an even greater goal of putting an end to cancer as we know it.
And while Dr. Goffin is optimistic about what he is seeing in terms of advancements, he still experiences the reality of cancer.
“I completed my residency 22 years ago. I now stand amazed at what the current crop of resident doctors must learn. To a modest assortment of straight up, old-school chemotherapy, we have added an ever increasing arsenal of targeted therapies and immunotherapy. A good portion of those advancements have been funded by Terry Fox and other charitable institutions. But I have to be clear that while a minority of patients do exceptionally well, for many others these represent only incremental gains. We have much work to do.”
We have much work to do.
Every September, Burlingtonians come out to support this cause. You donate, you walk, you run, you celebrate those who have survived and honour those you have lost and you inspire others. For John, Terry himself is a source of inspiration.
“Terry Fox saw the suffering of others, including the children he saw with cancer, and he wanted to stop it. And the journey he undertook almost seems like a legend. But it was real. There is no greater inspiration I can think of.”
It’s not too late to register and join Dr. John Goffin and countless others on September 15, 2024, at Spencer Smith Park.
