In 2023, I lost my father to cancer. An all too common story. That’s why on June 19th—Markus’ birthday—I’ll be pushing myself further than ever, running from Prince Rupert to Terrace, BC. 145 kilometres straight, for the BC Cancer Foundation’s Patient Relief Fund.

My why keeps me pushing every day.

Markus was everything to me and my mom. It was always us three, through thick and thin.

When his cancer diagnosis came in February 2020, it broke us. The pandemic was just starting, and now it was cancer—of all things—and it was my dad. We banded together and decided to fight it head on.

For 3 long years, we fought.

Countless nights in hotels, hours on the road, weeks in hospital hallways and waiting rooms. Specialists, radiation, chemotherapy, diets—anything that might help. The credit cards took the hit, but what choice did we have?

Cancer took its toll. First his leg, then his bladder. It was a brutal time.

The only constant? Markus’ attitude.

Markus was a warrior.

He went through the unimaginable, and even near the end, he rarely complained. He always had a smile on his face.

Growing up, I remember him working a second job delivering pizzas overnight, then going straight into his day job as a log scaler. I didn’t understand it back then. Now I do.

He would do anything for us.

In July 2023, I got the call.

My dad was in the hospital in Prince George, and the doctor told them: “your son better come up here.” That sticks with you. I made the 8-hour drive and spent several weeks there.

That’s where I found my love for running.

It became my one daily break from everything. The only time I felt somewhat free from the fear and the weight of it all.

On the 8-hour drive home, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I needed to do something.

For Markus. For others. For myself.

With two months’ notice, I organized a run from Prince Rupert to Terrace.

144 km over 7 days. I had a road crew, friends and family running with me, and a community that showed up in a big way.

Just one month later, Markus passed.

On September 20th, 2023, he chose MAID. He said his goodbyes, attended his own celebration of life, and comforted others as they cried. That’s who he was.

Since then, this has become something bigger.

In 2024, I ran it back.

In 2025, I went all out—7 marathons in 7 days, from Prince Rupert to Terrace and back. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Together, we raised over $10,000.

This year, I’m going all in again.

145 km. One shot.

I’ve never run anything close to that, and it scares me.

But when you see what people fighting cancer go through—the treatments, the pain, the uncertainty—it puts things into perspective.

I’ll push as far as I can. I’ll crawl if I have to.

I’m fundraising for the BC Cancer Foundation Patient Relief Fund.

This fund supports families who have to travel for cancer treatment—helping with gas, groceries, hotels, and medical supplies.

Fighting cancer is hard enough without financial stress.

If you’re able to support, whether it’s $5 or $50, it makes a difference.

Every dollar goes directly to helping a family on one of the hardest days of their life.

Thank you for being part of this.