Mike Boush doesn’t live in Ottawa — he isn’t even Canadian — but in May, he and his son will compete in the 2024 Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend (TORW) to raise money for The Ottawa Hospital.

As an American who lived in Ottawa from 1999 to 2004, Mike and his family received care at the hospital several times during the five-year period, and that care had a profound and long-lasting impact. Now, he’s determined to give back.

After receiving a work assignment to help open a bank in Ottawa, Mike moved here with his wife, Susan, and their infant son. The couple immediately fell in love with Ottawa, basking in Canadian culture and making the most of the city’s landscape.

In 2001, Susan gave birth to their second son at The Ottawa Hospital’s General Campus. Mike describes their experience with hospital staff, and particularly the post-natal care they received, as “wonderful.” Mike and Susan’s love for Canada and Ottawa is reflected in the name they chose for their son.

“We didn’t know what to name him — we just knew that we liked Tim Horton’s donuts,” Mike recalls. “We kept calling this future child of ours our little Timbit, and when we got to the hospital, we said, ‘Well, Timothy’s a great name.’ So, he’s actually named after Tim Horton.”

“We said someday we’ll run a marathon — it’s someday. We chose Ottawa, and we chose the hospital because it meant something to both of us.”

— Mike Boush

Tim, who is now 22 and has been a runner since he was five years-old, will soon run alongside his father in Ottawa. It’s the first race the father-son duo will compete in together. But long ago they made the promise to each other to complete a marathon together one day and this year just happens to be the 50th anniversary of the Ottawa Marathon.

“We said someday we’ll run a marathon — it’s someday,” Mike says. “We chose Ottawa, and we chose the hospital because it meant something to both of us.”

Perhaps even more Canadian than Tim’s name is the injury Mike endured in 2003: While playing hockey with some of his coworkers, he was pushed into the boards. Though he heard something in his ankle click at the moment, the pain was manageable, so he didn’t think it was broken. But after walking on it for more than a week, it became purple and swollen, and a nurse at his office confirmed that it was, in fact, broken. He promptly visited The Ottawa Hospital and discovered he had fractured several bones in his ankle, requiring surgery to infuse his leg with various plates and screws.

From the staff’s kindness to the surgery itself to the expert surgeons and nurses who took care of him, Mike’s experience is not something he will soon forget. “The treatment I received for this injury was the finest experience I’ve ever had in medical care,” shares Mike.

Years after his injury, Mike’s friend, Huw Williams, was diagnosed with leukemia. Huw lives in Ottawa, and he worked with the cancer care staff at The Ottawa Hospital in a desperate search for a compatible bone marrow donor to save his life. They were able to find a suitable donor, the transfusions were performed successfully, and he’s now cancer-free. When Mike decided to sign up for TORW, he invited Huw and his wife to run the marathon, and they jumped at the opportunity to raise money for the hospital that saved his life.

Mike competed in his first ever marathon in Ottawa back in 2004 — which he completed on inline skates — in an attempt to change his habits and lead a healthier lifestyle. The experience ignited his love for marathons and led him to participate in races around the world, including several Ironman Triathlons. And while he is driven to compete by the health and fitness benefits, even more motivating is his desire to give back to a cause that is near and dear to his heart.

“I wouldn’t be doing it if it weren’t for the opportunity to support the hospital, to be honest with you,” Mike says. “I’ve raised funds for Alzheimer’s, I’ve raised for brain cancer, both of which have affected my family — I look for causes that have impacted me directly. And I want to teach my son that it’s important to do these things whenever you can.”

Dr. Jenna Gale, a fertility specialist, is deeply passionate about women’s health research. That’s why this year, for the second time, she’s participating in the Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend (TORW) to raise money for research at The Ottawa Hospital.

As the resident research co-lead for the department of obstetrics and gynecology at The Ottawa Hospital, Dr. Gale has supported residents for the past five years, helping them find a research project and conduct impactful studies that can be disseminated internationally.

The challenge for these residents and women’s health projects is that they are underfunded and unrepresented. So, these funds help residents pursue their research ideas, that might not otherwise happen.

“We have a really exceptional research program, and we’re looking to support it even more, which is the purpose of us doing race weekend together, as a department.”

— Dr. Jenna Gale

“The quality of the research these residents are putting out is absolutely astounding,” she says. “We have a really exceptional research program, and we’re looking to support it even more, which is the purpose of us doing race weekend together, as a department.”

Dr. Gale herself is heavily involved in research, too. She has a master’s degree in clinical epidemiology and formally dedicates about 20% of her time to research, in addition to many evenings and weekends.

Dr. Sony Singh, the chair of the hospital’s department of obstetrics and gynecology, has been Dr. Gale’s mentor since she was a resident, and she says he was one of the key people who inspired her to pursue research as part of her career.

“That passion for research stems from seeing how impactful it could be on the patient experience in patient care and their outcomes,” she says.

Dr. Gale first participated in the race weekend two years ago and walked 5k with a number of her colleagues. Their team raised around $11,000 that year, and they’re determined to raise far more this time around.

While Dr. Gale was once a casual runner, multiple knee surgeries have impacted her ability to jog. Still, she’s more than happy to show up and walk.

“That didn’t stop me from wanting to be involved in this event, and I think it’s pretty wonderful because it shows other people who might not have been involved otherwise that they can come and join,” she says. “You don’t have to be a runner to come and have a fantastic time and be a really core part of the event.”

Whether walking or running, Dr. Gale says exercise is a fundamental part of life and an activity that contributes to overall wellbeing, both physically and mentally.

“To be able to do physical activity and combine that with a topic like resident research, which I’m really passionate about, makes it even more valuable,” she says.

The Uteracers, as the team is known, is made up of staff from her clinic who want to support resident research within the department as well as residents, obstetricians, gynecologists, nurses, and midwives from the hospital.

“We make it more than just a running or walking event – we also have a little get together at one of our houses to amp up the excitement,” she says. “I am mostly looking forward to the camaraderie and spending some time outside with friends and colleagues for a really great cause.”

Published: January 2024

Chris Dobson owes his newfound passion of running to his mother, Sindy Hooper.

Sindy was first diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in January 2013. Courageously, she took the diagnosis as an opportunity to fight for both her own life and the lives of other cancer patients. She formed a team of 100 runners, originally known as Marathoners Gone Viral, which included her son Chris. Their team participated in Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend (TORW) and raised more than $100,000 for pancreatic cancer research at The Ottawa Hospital

“She convinced everybody to do the marathon,” Chris says. “I did not train at all, and I just squeaked in under 7 hours. That was my first experience running. She convinced a lot of people to participate – people who said they’d never run in their life.”

This year, Chris will once again join their dedicated crew — now known as the Make Every Moment Count (MEMC) Crew — in raising money for cancer research at the TORW. Their team just recently surpassed the half-a-million-dollar mark in their total fundraising efforts.

Following her treatment at The Ottawa Hospital over a decade ago, Sindy went into remission, living cancer-free for more than nine years while continuing to run and raise money with her team each year. Chris ran alongside his mother that first year, but he didn’t participate in the race again until last year, after the return of Sindy’s cancer.

It was then, in an effort to spend more time with his mother, that Chris truly caught the running bug.

“I just wanted to find any way to spend more time with her, and a triathlon is her favorite thing in the world, so that was just an easy way to spend an hour with her every day,” Chris says.

Chris was a smoker at the time, but he found himself enjoying getting into better physical shape and feeling empowered. He committed himself to running, and he says that passion for challenging himself slowly spread to other aspects of his life. Today, it’s been at least a year since he last smoked a cigarette.

A crew that welcomes any level of runner

In September 2022, Sindy was told her cancer had metastasized and she had a year to live — she once again beat those odds. She has since been given an updated prognosis of six months, and yet continues to live with gratitude and courage while still raising money for the cause that is near and dear to her.

“She has a real hunger for life, and seeing how she continues to have that composure in the face of cancer is super inspiring to me,” he says. “If my mom is still able to go do a track workout when she’s on chemo, obviously I can too.”

Chris is immensely grateful for all the medical care his mother has received over the years, and he is passionate about how research advancements directly impact countless lives. He has been heartened to learn about the number of effective treatments that are well within reach, and he sees donating to such research as an investment in his, and his loved ones’, futures.

That’s why he plans to continue raising money for The Ottawa Hospital when his mother can no longer do so.

The MEMC Crew is made up of all kinds of people with all different fitness levels, Chris says, ranging from high school students to retirees. Many people are fiercely committed to the run, while others walk through it with the sole purpose of showing support for Sindy.

“She is a fighter, she never gives up, and she never gets discouraged,” Chris says of his mother. “She always has hope. It’s been like this many times, where we’re not sure if she’s going to make it through the next six months, but I have faith that she will.”

“You can join the team and get yourself in shape and maybe even change your life.”

— Chris Dobson

Sindy loves being outside and being active, Chris says, and she’s passionate about the importance of spending time doing things that are both healthy and productive. For Chris, this race is an opportunity to do just that and so much more.

“If you want to do something charitable, I think it’s a great cause,” Chris says. “You can join the team and get yourself in shape and maybe even change your life.”

Living with stage 4 medullary thyroid cancer hasn’t changed the positive attitude that Matt Zanutta carries with him each day. With his construction business growing and a young family at home, everything was moving in the right direction for Matt until a fall on a job site led him down an unimaginable path that eventually led to his cancer diagnosis in 2020 at the age of 29.

Matt’s wife, Justine Zanutta, will never forget the day she got the news. She was sitting at home, holding the couple’s first child — their newborn son. “It was hard to process the news. It just flips your world upside down. At the time it feels like you’re being robbed of the best years of your life,” explains Justine.

When he was referred to The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre for treatment, Matt underwent several surgeries and then radiation. It was an already a difficult time, made even more challenging because of the pandemic but his medical team helped him maintain his top-notch attitude. “Drs. Scott Laurie, Marc Gaudet, and Michael Odell were unbelievable, and the support the nurses provided every time I was in the hospital was incredible. It was during the early days of COVID, so it was hard times because I couldn’t have my family with me. You don’t appreciate the care until you experience it,” says Matt.

“The chemo drug Matt is on today wouldn’t be available without advancements in medicine. What matters is raising money for cancer research to support new, innovative treatment options for not only Matt, but many other people as well.”

— Justine Zanutta

In late 2022, Matt’s cancer started to spread quite aggressively, and he started targeted chemotherapy treatment at the end of January 2023 — a newer drug that has only been in Canada for a year. Through it all, Matt continues to run his business. He and Justine know cancer research advancements are crucial. “The chemo drug Matt is on today wouldn’t be available without advancements in medicine. What matters is raising money for cancer research to support new, innovative treatment options for not only Matt, but many other people as well,” explains Justine.

The couple’s desire to say thank you and to raise money for cancer research is how Team Top Notch came to be in May 2022. The couple created a Run for a Reason team and brought together family and friends. “Everyone always asks me how I’m doing, and my answer is always ‘top notch’, and so that’s how the name for the team came together,” says Matt.

The team loved the first-time experience and they’re back again for 2023. “It was awesome. It was our first race weekend, and we had a really great time. It was all smiles the whole 5k, and we raised $15,000 for cancer research at The Ottawa Hospital. That was huge for us, and it makes us feel good to give back,” explains Justine.

Together, this team is fueling cancer research while maintaining a top-notch attitude that they know will help them as they take each step in this cancer journey together, as a family.

Published: December 2022
Every once in a while, there is a movement that brings people together — a movement to inspire hope for the future.

When Sindy Hooper was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in January 2013, a movement was born. While Sindy faced an uncertain future, she forged ahead, determined to beat the odds. Her treatment included Whipple surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. She was able to withstand chemo and radiation treatments so well that she continued training for Ironman Canada.

Sindy also spearheaded a team, known as Marathoners Gone Viral, to raise money for pancreatic cancer research at The Ottawa Hospital. The team included 100 participants and raised over $100,000 as a part of the fundraising component of Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend (TORW) in May 2013.

It was that year that Alex Stewart first met Sindy. He was just out of university and working at a specialized training centre for athletes, where Sindy was training for her Ironman. Alex had heard Sindy’s story, and explained he was considering a triathlon, but Sindy convinced him to try a half-Ironman first — he also joined Marathoners Gone Viral. Alex and Sindy have been friends and have trained together ever since. In fact, Alex now calls her his triathlon mom. “Watching her drive and dedication over the years is inspiring, but also her mindset has changed over the years. She was super competitive, well she’s still super competitive, but it’s also fun. It’s also about loving life and living life to the fullest,” Alex explains.

In an effort to welcome runners of all levels, the MEMC (Making Every Moment Count) Team was born. The team name came from a conversation between Sindy and her dear friend, Janet McKeage, at Janet’s dining room table. The friends were looking to inspire people and based on that conversation, the new name was adopted. “Sindy teaches me every day to live like that team name. She inspires me and so many others. She created this huge running team and each year we give back to research. We even have our own MEMC running gear. I remember running down a street in Maui, Hawaii years ago and there was someone running towards me with one of our shirts on and I thought, wow this isn’t just in Ottawa,” says Janet.

In the late summer of 2022, Sindy and her family received devastating news — the cancer was back. “It was the situation we feared for the last nine years and nine months. With no curative surgery or treatment, no immunotherapy or clinical trial, I began palliative chemotherapy in October and then some radiation. I’m hoping for a year. I’m hoping for a miracle,” says Sindy.

With news that Sindy’s cancer had spread, the MEMC movement began to surge once again. Within the first few weeks of the team being registered for TORW, it grew to 122 and counting.

“I’m hoping for a year. I’m hoping for a miracle.”

— Sindy Hooper

This year will mark the ninth year for the MEMC team and to date they’ve raised $274,000. Sindy’s goal this year is to top the $300,000 mark. Acknowledging there are difficult days as she endures chemo and radiation, it’s the groundswell of support that continues to push her through, along with the support of her husband, Jon, and her two sons. “I’m completely blown away by the support,” says Sindy.

Sindy continues to live each day with gratitude and to make every moment count — while still giving back to inspire hope, raise awareness, and generate more funds for cancer research. It’s a movement that will certainly be a part of her legacy.

It was sunny and warm on June 1, 2014 — a day Jess Lambert will never forget. She was just 20 years old and enjoying an afternoon with friends at a lake near Calabogie. Her friends were cliff diving but Jess was nervous about jumping 20 feet into the water below. “I was running and stopping, running and stopping, then around the fifth attempt I ran and lost my balance at the end of the cliff. I fell and hit a rock that was about a foot into the water,” says Jess.

Her friends rescued her from the water, but Jess couldn’t feel her legs. While one friend stayed with her, another went for help. It took time for first responders to access Jess in the remote area before they could transport her to an air ambulance waiting in a nearby farmer’s field.

When she arrived at The Ottawa Hospital Trauma Centre at the Civic Campus, an initial examination indicated Jess had no movement from the waist down. “I couldn’t wiggle my toes or feel anything,” remembers Jess. Test results revealed she had a lower lumbar spinal injury, and her organs were compressed against her spine. She was scared she would never walk again.

Jess faced two long surgeries in the days ahead. It was about a week after the second surgery, while in the Intensive Care Unit, when the gravity of the situation hit her. The surgeon who operated on her spine revealed she had a 60/40 chance of walking again. “That was hard to hear. My family was with me, but it was very hard news. I was just 20 years old with a life ahead of me,” remembers Jess. 

She credits her dad for being by her side and helping her through some dark times. “I remember waking up after my second surgery in the middle of the night and in pain. The nurse working that night allowed my dad to stay at my bedside. He was talking me through it and telling me to stay strong. He and my family were a huge part of my recovery,” explains Jess.

“The Ottawa Hospital has amazing caregivers, they’re an amazing team overall, and this is such a great cause to support. They do so much for the community. ”

Jess Lambert

However, Jess was motivated to move her legs again — and the hard work to make that happen began immediately. She started physiotherapy, using a swing to move her from her bed to a wheelchair. “Over those three weeks at the Civic, I slowly regained feeling in my legs. One of my most memorable stories is when my family came in every day and the test would be that they put their finger down by my toe and my goal was to touch the finger. One day, it happened. I could see the tears well up in my family’s eyes by my bed side. I could see how happy and proud they were,” says Jess.

Jess’s next stop was the Rehab Centre at the General Campus where she worked to regain her strength and achieve her ultimate goal of walking again. “We’d do physio and then weights. I was also gaining strength in my arms at that time. I would go around the track at the centre to build up that arm muscle.”

On July 3, only a month following the accident, Jess stood on her own for the first time. By July 17, she was walking around the gym at the Rehab Centre with canes. “By the end of August, I was strong enough to walk on my own without any support and I got to go home — ahead of schedule. It was amazing.”

Over time, Jess got her full strength back in her legs and, incredibly, she completed her first 5 km run just one year after her accident.

Last year, she registered to Run for a Reason to give back to those who helped her. “If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be where I am today. The Ottawa Hospital has amazing caregivers, they’re an amazing team overall, and this is such a great cause to support. They do so much for the community. “

This year, she will tackle a new challenge. She’s registered to run her first marathon, giving her a whole new reason to train and fundraise. “I couldn’t have asked for better nurses, surgeons, doctors — there were a lot of people who cared for me, and I’ll never forget how helpful they were. I’m extremely thankful for them.”

Today, Jess lives every day to the fullest and she encourages others to never give up their dreams or goals.