“Make every moment count”: Sindy Hooper’s mantra, and the community did that in her honour on Saturday.
Those who gathered around a Kanata home on Saturday couldn’t help but wonder if Sindy Hooper, who radiated warmth and positivity in both life and death, had a hand in dictating the day’s unseasonably balmy forecast.
“This is very Sindy-esque, the weather,” said Dr. Jon Hooper, her husband. “Maybe she has pull with the weather now.”
Hundreds gathered in Kanata for Sindy’s Run: a one-, three- or five-kilometre run to raise money for pancreatic cancer research.
Sindy Hooper, 61, a former hospital administrator, triathlete and marathon runner, died from pancreatic cancer in September, more than 11 years after being diagnosed with the disease.
After her diagnosis, she raised more than $500,000 for pancreatic cancer research, with Saturday’s event adding more than $30,000 to that total.
About three-quarters of those diagnosed with pancreatic cancer die within the first year since it tends to develop with few symptoms. In Canada, only about 10 per cent of patients survive five years.
Sindy Hooper defied those odds, living life in six-month intervals in between CT scans, Jon Hooper said. It gave rise to her motto, “Make every moment count.”
“It’s almost a cliché you see on coffee mugs: Make every moment count. But Sindy lived that to the most,” he said. “A lot of people are here because of that.”
Obituary: The inspiring marathon of Sindy Hooper
Janet McKeage, chair of The Ottawa Hospital Foundation’s board of directors and a close friend of Sindy Hooper’s, said she first got involved with the hospital board because of Sindy and her battle with cancer.
“She was somebody who didn’t hide. She took her story and wanted to make a difference in people’s lives,” McKeage said, adding she was “overwhelmed” by Saturday’s turnout as it served as a “beautiful tribute” to her friend.
“The fact that everyone is here, and doing what she loves, and I mean today is the perfect day. It’s sunny, it’s beautiful. It feels like Sindy is somewhere with us.”
Two years ago, when her cancer returned, Sindy Hooper took her wig off in front of the crowd at her annual run.
“Even in pain, she wanted to tell people because she wanted to educate and encourage people to make this better in the future,” McKeage said. “We’re very lucky to have had her. The community is better off to have known her.”
With files from Andrew Duffy
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