My Story…
This October I'll be running my first half marathon in memory of my wife, Paola.
Paola loved running. She always encouraged me to be more active and to run more. She was diagnosed with a very rare sarcoma when she was 27 and died before her 31st birthday, two years ago. I miss running beside her, but she has been with me in my mind and heart through every single training session.
Running has also become one of the most important tools in helping me rebuild my life after losing her. It has given me structure on difficult days and helped me improve my mental health. Crossing the finish line will be meaningful, but in many ways, the training itself has already felt like a victory. Being able to turn that journey into support for cancer research feels like a meaningful way to honour Paola's memory.
I'm raising funds for the Cancer Research Society to support cancer research and to help bring greater awareness to the growing number of young adults diagnosed with cancer. Cancer in young adults is still too often overlooked because it doesn't fit our expectations of who gets cancer. That can contribute to delayed diagnoses and make it harder for young people to have their concerns taken seriously. I hope Paola’s story encourages others to live healthy lives, pay attention to unexplained changes in their bodies, and advocate for themselves when they feel something isn't right. Early detection remains one of our best tools against cancer.
If you're able to support this cause with a donation, thank you. Sharing this page is another meaningful way to help. Every contribution honours Paola's memory and supports research that can give more young people and their families hope.
Donate to help Elder raise money for 2026 TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon’s fundraising campaign.
Recent donors
| Donation date | Donor name | Donation amount |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 07 | Maryam | CA$54.63 |
| Oct 07 | Dongying | Undisclosed amount |
| Oct 06 | Elder | CA$200.00 |