Three students from Wilfrid Laurier University are turning personal loss and lived experience into action, organizing a long-distance run from Waterloo to Guelph to raise awareness and funds for colorectal cancer research.
What began as a small, student-led initiative quickly grew into a large community event, drawing an unexpectedly strong turnout in support of the cause.
“I am very happy to be here and shocked to see the response,” said Ryan Usprech, one of the event organizers. “We did not expect it to be this big, and it is honestly fantastic.”
The run supports Colorectal Cancer Canada, a national organization dedicated to raising awareness, supporting patients and funding research. For the organizers, the cause is deeply personal.
“My family has a history of colon cancer, and I think it is an important conversation to have,” Ryan said. “Colon cancer among young adults has increased significantly.”
The event was inspired by Ryan’s cousin, who had previously participated in the “Push for Your Tush” run a series of five- and 10-kilometre races aimed at promoting colorectal cancer awareness.
“That really inspired us,” Ryan said. “We realized the fight did not need to be massive it needed to be intentional.”
That idea — meaningful change can start small, becoming the foundation of the Waterloo-to-Guelph run. What started as a simple plan between a few students quickly evolved into a larger movement, as word spread and community members rallied behind the initiative.
Participants gathered not only to run but to show support, share stories and stand in solidarity with those affected by cancer.
For Michael aka Michi Wieland, who attended the event but was unable to run due to injury, the cause hits especially close to home.
“Due to an injury, I’m unable to run today, but I’m here to support these gentlemen,” Michi said. “It feels like a great honour to see this kind of support.”
Michi lost their mother to terminal brain cancer while still in high school with an experience that continues to shape their perspective.
“I could not grow up with my mom,” they said. “I am sure each of us has dealt with cancer in some way, through friends, family or loved ones.”
That shared experience was evident throughout the event, as participants connected over stories of loss, resilience and hope.
“We wanted to do this run to create awareness and raise money to fight back,” Michi said. “To find cures for the diseases that took away our loved ones including my mother.”
For fellow organizer Ariel Babichev, the motivation comes from a different, but equally personal place: his mother’s work in cancer research.
“The big reason I’m here doing this today is my mom,” Ariel said. “She works in cancer research at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto. She is part of a team researching sarcoma cancer.”
Growing up surrounded by that work gave Ariel a firsthand understanding of both the challenges and the importance of ongoing research.
“I was literally born at my mom’s workplace,” he added. “Seeing the work she does has always inspired me.”
The run spanning the distance between Waterloo and Guelph — served as both a physical and symbolic journey. Covering the route required endurance and commitment, but organizers emphasized that the real goal was to spark conversation and bring attention to an issue that is often overlooked.
Colorectal cancer, while commonly associated with older adults, has been increasingly diagnosed in younger populations in recent years. This shift has made awareness efforts among students and young adults more urgent than ever.
By organizing the run within the university community, the students hoped to challenge assumptions and encourage people to think more openly about prevention, screening and early detection.
The strong turnout suggested that the message resonated.
Supporters lined portions of the route, while others gathered at the start and finish points to cheer participants. For many, simply showing up was a way to contribute to a larger cause.
The event also highlighted the power of student-led initiatives in creating meaningful change. Without large-scale funding or institutional backing, the organizers relied on community engagement, word of mouth and shared purpose to bring the event to life.
For Ryan, Ariel and Michi, the experience has been both overwhelming and rewarding.
“I am so grateful for my family who are here and for all of you coming out to support us,” Ariel said. “Thank you so much.”
Organizers hope this is only the beginning. With the success of this year’s run, they are already looking ahead to future events, with the goal of expanding their reach and continuing to support cancer research.
More importantly, they hope to keep the conversation going.
While fundraising remains a key component, the students emphasize that awareness is just as critical, especially when it comes to cancers that are often stigmatized or overlooked.
In bringing people together through movement, storytelling and shared purpose, the Waterloo-to-Guelph run demonstrated how small, intentional actions can grow into something much larger.
And for those involved, it served as a reminder that even in the face of loss, there is still space for community, action and hope.
Contributed Photo/Santosh Chandrasekar/Stefan Latis
