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COMING UP hen Mary Ann Holman's lbyear-old son told her her Adam's apple was moving up and down. she thought he was mistaken. Women don't have Adam's apples Mtenshelookedlnthemirmrtoseewhat he was talking about “sure enough. there was a big lump on my throat. I went into a state of panic.” she said. Initially diagnosed as a cyst. it was still there four months later. in lanuary2013. she had it biopsied. It was medulth thyroid cancer (M'I‘C). OnlytiueetofourperoentofallcancercasesinCanadaare diagrrosedaleCWhidrequatestomugmy 170 peopleayear. according to the Thyroid Cancer Canada website General symptoms include thyroid and/or neck lymph nodules. hoarseness, difliculty breathth shortness of breath. as wellasahardtimeswaflowing. accordingtotheihymidCancer “l was so floored." the Grade 8 teacher at Markham's All Saints Catholic School said of the diagnosis She received the news alone because she was actually at the doctor for another reason. “I looked at the doctor and said ‘I don‘t believe you'." she Holman maintained that defiant attitude through two sur~ geries that resulted in the complete removal of her thyroid. Even when she found out the cancer spread to her lymph nodes. Holman was adamant it was not going to take her down. When Holman told her husband and two children. she assumed them everything would be OK. even though she knew virtually nothing about MIC because it is so rare. “Next thing you do is get on the lntemet. Bad thing. Don't do that.” she said with a laugh Through her teaching job. Holman was connected to CARE- path. a cancer assistance program with trained support staff. as well as oncology doctors and nurses them, she was set up with her own oncology nurse and support worker. who called her daily. Holman remains in regular contact with her support worker. vmuarry noming about M‘it.‘ because it rs so rare. “Next thing you do is get on the lntemet. Bad thing. Don't do that.” she said with a laugh. Through her teaching job. Holman was connected to CARE- path, a cancer assistance program with trained support staff. as well as oncology doctors and nurses them, shewasset upwithherawnoncologynurse and support worker. who called her daily. Holman remains in regular contact with her support worker. Following the removal of some lymph nodes. Holman was subjected to 33 radiation treatments ShewouldteachinthemomingthentaketheGObusto Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto. undergo radiation. then TWO-and-a-half years later. Holman “can‘t say I'm cancer free. but all my readings are in the right direction". “1 hope that one day I can say I'm cancer-free." This year marks the third time Holman will participate in the Stoufiville Terry Fox Run. which takes place Sept. 14. However. roughly 10 years ago. she helped get her school involved in the annual event. Holman's father was diagnosed with colon cancer about 13 years 880 At that time. Holman underwent a colonoscopy and was told she. too. had polyps She had them removed. As a member of the Holman Hawks 'Ibrry Fox Run team. she proudly wears her red survivorT-shirt and has given million. There is no minirntun donation required in order to participate. - Stan and finish is at the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffvile leisure Centre. 2 Park Dr. Registration begins at noon with the official start at 1 pm. The route is open until 3. Participants can complete a 2. 5. or 10k m distance by walking, running. cycling or roller- blading on a safe. well marshaled route on town streets and trails , Consider walking or cycling to the leisure Centre. as parking is extremely limited. For more information. go to www.facebook.com/ ‘You can beat this’: SllI’VlVOI‘ DY SANDRA BOLAN sbolanOyrmgxom Mary Ann Holman will lead her Holman Hawks at Stoufl'ville's Terry Fox Run Sept. 14 from the leisure centre. oomehomebybusanddoitallagainthenextday. “To prove this was beatable. l was not going to be defeated by this I had two little kids at home.” she said. Initially Holman insisted on going through the surgeries and radiation on her own. However. while receiving radiation treatments. she realized“it was my job to let the goodness ofothers shine through with their help”. ‘To prove this was bearable. l was not going to be defeated by this. I had two little kids at home.‘ them to a couple of fn‘ends who have also been diagnosed with cancer. to let them know “this is something to aspire to. lust something to look forward to You can beat thix" Roughly 60 people wore the red shirts during the 2013 Stoufiville Terry Fox Run. according to Sandy Schell Ken~ nedy. chairperson of the local event. They ranged in age from 7 to 80. ' "It was beautiful." she said. Last year's community event had about 1.300 partici- pants and raised $137.0“) for cancer research. - This year. the goal is 1.500 people and $150,000. “No one is exempt from the disease of cancer." Schell Kennedy Since 1982. Stoufiville's Terry Fox Run has raised $1.47 million. There is no minimum donation required in order to participate. - STAFF PNOTOIMIKE BARRETT