Run director Erica Igreja, left, and her mom Maria say it has been extra meaningful to take part in CIBC Run for the Cure since Maria’s own experience with breast cancer.SUPPLIED
One sunny Saturday afternoon in October 2022, Maria Igreja was volunteering for the Canadian Cancer Society CIBC Run for the Cure, Canada’s largest single day volunteer-lead fundraising event. It was the day before the event, and Maria was helping to set up the Hope tent, a space where participants living with breast cancer congregate to meet and support each other.
Maria was volunteering with her daughter, Erica Igreja, a CIBC employee, along with several other family members and friends. As someone with a family history of breast cancer, Maria was acutely aware of the difficult journey faced by people with the disease. She remembers saying to Team Igreja that day, “I hope this is not going to be something that will affect me.”
Two weeks later, Maria went in for her bi-annual mammogram. The routine test, always negative in the past, led to a biopsy this time, and Maria was shocked to learn she was in the early stages of an aggressive form of breast cancer.
Suddenly, Maria and Erica’s long-time participation at the CIBC Run for the Cure had a new, personal meaning.
Since its inception in 1992, the CIBC Run for the Cure has grown to over 50 sites across the country with tens of thousands of volunteers and participants.SUPPLIED
“It’s one thing when you hear about it, especially [as someone] involved in the Run, but it’s another thing when you experience it with someone you love,” says Erica, who works in business effectiveness at CIBC and serves as a Run director for the CIBC Run for the Cure. “I was really, really scared. I didn’t know what the future held.”
What followed was a challenging course of treatment for Maria that involved surgery, radiation and chemotherapy to help reduce the chance of recurrence.
“I wasn’t about to give up; I had a mindset to fight it,” says Maria. “I don’t want to die. I want to be with my kids. I have so much to look forward to.”
When tests showed no evidence of cancer nine months later, it was “a big relief,” says Maria. Taking part in the Run after that was extra meaningful for both mother and daughter.
“My favourite spot is at the finish line; that’s where I try to be on Run Day with my megaphone in hand,” says Erica. “The first Run after [my mother] was showing no sign of disease was really emotional in a good way. There were lots of happy, happy tears, and I was so proud and excited to be there cheering her on as she crossed.”
Some of the 13,000 CIBC employees that take part in CIBC Run for the Cure each year.SUPPLIED
Energy and positivity
Erica says that her dedication to the CIBC Run for the Cure is just one example of the spirit of giving that is present in so many employees at CIBC.
“Giving back is a big, big part of the culture at CIBC,” says Erica. Part of her mandate as a Run director is to help ensure participants living with breast cancer – like her mother – have a positive experience on event day.
“I tell people, especially our volunteers, it’s a lot of hard work in the beginning, but once you reach that Run Day, it’s all worth it. The atmosphere is amazing. There’s so much energy, there’s positivity, everywhere, and it’s just great to see people cheer each other on.”
Since inception, the CIBC Run for the Cure has grown to over 50 sites across the country, with 13,000 Team CIBC members participating along with tens of thousands of other volunteers and participants. Through pledges, donations and fundraising initiatives, CIBC has raised more than $64-million in breast cancer support funds to date.
It’s an area of great need – the Canadian Cancer Society estimates that about one in eight women in Canada will develop breast cancer during their lifetime and one in 36 will die from it.
“Cancer is a cause that is deeply important to us at CIBC,” says Richard Jardim, executive vice-president and chief information officer at CIBC and co-executive sponsor of the CIBC Run for the Cure. “We are proud to support the Canadian Cancer Society to help fund critical breast cancer research, treatment, screening and diagnosis, as well as initiatives that prioritize prevention and early detection. Together with the Canadian Cancer Society, our bank is helping change the landscape of breast cancer in Canada.”
Anna Goncalves, senior vice-president, HR advisory and workforce transformation at CIBC and co-executive sponsor of the CIBC Run for the Cure, adds that the Run is an opportunity for CIBC employees to stand together in solidarity with those impacted by breast cancer and to help drive progress toward a future without the disease.
“The CIBC Run for the Cure is such an important part of who we are at CIBC – a genuinely caring team with a deep commitment to supporting our clients, colleagues and communities,” she says.
Maria echoes the sentiment, noting without advancements in research and treatment, she may not have had such positive outcomes. “Because of events such as the CIBC Run for the Cure, there’s more hope for me,” she says.
‘Something we can all celebrate’
Laurie Benner, vice-president of signature programs for the Canadian Cancer Society, says that CIBC’s ongoing commitment to the CIBC Run for the Cure is essential to enable the organization to continue doing what they do. The Canadian Cancer Society invests in the most promising cancer research, advocates for policies that reduce the burden of cancer and provides trusted information and support to help people cope with cancer.
“Because of funds raised through the Canadian Cancer Society CIBC Run for the Cure and decades of progress, more people are surviving breast cancer than ever before,” Ms. Benner says. “The five-year breast cancer survival rate is now 89 per cent – up from 82 per cent in the 1990s when the first Run was organized by a small group of volunteers, largely the result of enhanced screening and improvements in diagnosis and treatment. This is something we can all celebrate.”
Funds raised through the Run are invested in promising research projects across Canada like an mRNA-based breast cancer treatment that kills cancer cells that have spread and a new blood test that can detect breast cancer in young women and spot those who might be at high risk of the disease.
The Canadian Cancer Society also helps provide patients with access to wigs, transportation and accommodation during treatment and other critical information and support services. Last year, the Canadian Cancer Society answered 4,200 breast cancer inquiries through its Cancer Information Helpline, helping women understand their diagnosis, explore treatment options, and connect them with local resources.
Ms. Benner adds that despite this progress, breast cancer continues to be the most common cancer among Canadian women, impacting the lives of so many families every day. “Continued investment in the most promising breast cancer research is essential to continue making a difference for all those people and their families.”
Maria says taking part as a volunteer in the Run helped her find a community she can lean on. “Everybody connects because we’re all there for the same reason,” she says.
She adds that she “couldn’t feel more proud” of her daughter, Erica, for her leadership role in the CIBC Run for the Cure.
“She’s amazing. It means a lot that my daughter’s involved, especially now,” Maria says.
“And I feel grateful that CIBC has put so much into this event. I think it’s a blessing.”
Feeling inspired to get involved? Register today to run or walk in the CIBC Run for the Cure
Advertising feature produced by Globe Content Studio with CIBC. The Globe’s editorial department was not involved.