Timmins Cancer Survivor to Lead Terry Fox Run This Year

Just one year after discovering a lump through self-examination, Aileen Felsher is stepping into a role that will transform her pain into purpose.

The 49-year-old breast cancer survivor will serve as the 2025 Terry Fox ambassador for Timmins, Ontario, leading the September 20 fundraiser at Gillies Lake. She finished her final radiation treatment in May after months of chemotherapy, surgery, and lymph node biopsies for stage two breast cancer.

Felsher's diagnosis came before she was even eligible for routine screening, which at the time started at age 50. Her self-examination caught what formal screening would have missed, a discovery that likely saved her life.

"If you're ever feeling weird or whatever, get checked. Don't ever question it," Felsher said. The screening age has since been lowered to 40, but her message remains urgent for women of all ages.

Event organizer Cathy Davis approached Felsher about becoming this year's ambassador. For Felsher, it was an immediate yes. Her treatment at Health Sciences North in Sudbury showed her firsthand how decades of cancer research have transformed patient outcomes.

"I think that research and money going towards that is super important," she said. "That's why I was more than welcome to jump in."

Why This Inspires

Felsher's journey from patient to advocate captures the heart of Terry Fox's original mission. When Fox ran his Marathon of Hope in 1980, he covered more than 5,000 kilometers before cancer stopped him near Thunder Bay. The progress made since then proves that every dollar raised moves us closer to a cure.

Felsher thinks about her own family and the countless others still fighting. She has friends currently in treatment, making this year's run both joyful and bittersweet. "It'll be really happy and really sad all at the same time," she said.

The event's theme, "Finish It," resonates deeply with someone who just finished her own grueling treatment. While Felsher believes she's now cancer-free, she continues hormone therapy and regular monitoring.

Registration begins at 11 a.m., with the 2.2-kilometer route circling Gillies Lake. More than $8,300 has already been raised, but Felsher knows the day means more than any fundraising total. She wants participants to leave with "a feeling of community and support."

For Felsher, that community support carried her through her darkest days, and now she's ready to pass it forward.