Cara Loverock
Northern News Services
Published Friday, September 14, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - At the tender age of seven, Shiri Casebeer MacPherson is missing a kidney and portions of both lungs.

The bubbly second grader was just two and a half when she was diagnosed with a type of cancer that affects the kidneys.

Shiri Casebeer MacPherson, 7, is a second grader and cancer survivor. She will be participating in this weekend's Terry Fox Run. - Cara Loverock/NNSL photo

Her participation in the Terry Fox run this Sunday is a reminder of the need for cancer awareness and fundraising, according to the girl's father, Marino Casebeer.

He wants people to know the importance of groups like the Terry Fox Foundation. During her 10 months in treatment, the organization funded research that Casebeer feels contributed to Shiri's survival.

Last year, Yellowknifers raised nearly $40,000 for the foundation and to date the Terry Fox Foundation has amassed close to $400 million nationwide for cancer research.

"The Terry Fox Foundation is the only foundation that focuses completely on children," said Casebeer.

"In overall cancer stats children are somewhat overlooked because in general stats it's only three percent of cancer."

Terry Fox is known internationally for his 'Marathon of Hope,' in which Fox attempted to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research. He was diagnosed with bone cancer at the age of 18 and died four years later before he was able to complete his marathon.

When asked what she remembers of her long hospital stay, Shiri shrugged and said, "Playing."

Her father remembers a much different and difficult time.

"Ten months of Shiri's life was being surrounded by passages of new friends, including one of her roommates who had the same cancer, at a much earlier stage," said Casebeer.

The dad recounts his daughter's release from the hospital on June 16, 2004, after cancerous portions of her lungs and kidney were removed. The family returned to Yellowknife during the annual summer festival of Raven Mad Daze summer festival.

That evening the Great Canadian Head Shave was being held - another fundraiser for cancer. Shiri participated by shaving her parents' heads.

"She wanted us all to start out the same, even though it didn't work out that way because from the toxic impact of chemotherapy her hair took a lot longer to return and ours was back in a month," Casebeer said.

Enrolled in ballet and tap dancing classes, Shiri is beginning to resume the normal activities of a seven-year-old. Another good sign is that her monitoring checks have now been reduced to six months, instead of every three.

Shiri is also part of a Friend of Terry Fox, a network of cancer survivors who speak at schools and participate in promotions for the Terry Fox Foundation.

Shiri said she has many pictures of Terry Fox and knows his fight against cancer: "He ran across Canada." The best part of the Terry Fox foundation, according to Shiri, is "Helping Terry Fox."

The annual Terry Fox run takes place Sunday, Sept. 16 at the Yellowknife Arena beginning at noon.

Everyone is invited to walk, run or bike. There is no registration fee.