SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Shorts and running shoes were replaced by yoga clothes at this year's CIBC Run for Our Lives event, as organizers continue to re-imagine their signature fundraising event for cancer services in the Northwest Territories.

Breast cancer survivor Amanda Petersen addresses the crowd of more than 100 people at the annual CIBC Run for Your Life fundraiser. The workshop-style event focused on individuals' overall health and well-being, not targeting any specific type of cancer. - photo courtesy of Julie Bennett

The Stanton Territorial Hospital Foundation has traditionally held an October walk/run to raise money for breast cancer programs, services and equipment. However, this year for the first time the committee tasked with organizing this event has expanded its mandate to include all cancers, not just breast cancer.

"We just felt like we needed to change things up," said Patty Olexin-Lang, a member of the CIBC Run for Our Lives committee since 2006. "Everybody's affected by cancer. We thought people would grasp the sense of (fighting) all cancers."

Olexin-Lang said the decision to expand the committee's focus came after much deliberation.

In 2012, the group reached its major goal of $1 million to buy a new digital mammography machine for the hospital.

It was then that they started to notice a decline in participation, which Olexin-Lang said might have had something to do with not having a concrete goal they were trying to meet.

"Knowing that we had reached our goal of the million-dollar purchase amount for the mammography machine, we were sort of in flux trying to decide what we would do next," she said.

In 2014, the group replaced their run with an evening event at the Explorer Hotel.

This year, the foundation held a similar event but put a broader focus on health and well-being.

"It was like a workshop about if you're living with cancer, can you change your lifestyle to better deal with it. We're talking the whole scope of life," said Julie Bennett, executive director of the Stanton Hospital Foundation.

"What you can do in your everyday life?"

There were presentations made by holistic nutritionist Lorie Crawford; acupuncturist William Porter with tips on stress management; and Maureen Tonge, who taught yoga techniques and breathing exercises.

Bennett was pleased with the way each presenter shared easy tips for making healthier choices.

Tong pointed to yoga as an example of a valuable activity because it can be practiced behind a desk as well as at the gym.

"Yoga is: you can sit at your desk and do these simple things to relieve stress in your day, to revitalize yourself," she said.

However, Bennett said the highlight of the evening may have been the address given to the audience by keynote speaker Amanda Petersen, who lost her father to cancer and later was diagnosed with breast cancer. She spoke about the impact cancer had on her life, but also the strategies and techniques she's relied on to stay healthy during her time of illness.

"I explored other therapies in conjunction with the western medicine," said Petersen. "There are many ways to approach and they work in conjunction with each other. And the benefits of one flow into the other."

Petersen she was pleased to be a part of this year's fundraiser.

"There's a relational aspect to events like this," she said. "The opportunities for people to share is a significant component."

When Petersen asked the crowd of more than 100 people how many had been personally impacted by cancer almost everyone raised their hands.

"Everybody's affected by cancer," said Olexin-Lang.

The CIBC Run for Your Life committee plans to host a run again in 2016.

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