Vancouver boy paying it forward after surviving the fight of his life
Nick Cannon is gearing up for a running race to support a cause close to his heart.
Over the past few years, Nick spent more than 170 days in hospital battling a rare form of stage 4 cancer.
"I mean when you go through all that, you don't feel the greatest, I have to admit," said the 14-year-old.
"We were given one of the worst diagnoses a parent can receive -- maybe, maybe not survive," said Kelly Cannon, Nick's mother.
The lengthy treatment involved bouts with chemo, radiation and nearly twenty operations.
In 2021, Vancouver's West Side community rallied to throw a celebration sendoff prior to Nick's final round of chemotherapy. Nick says the support helped lift his spirts and credits the BC Children's Hospital staff with keeping him alive.
"They would always be like just helping me, making me feel comfortable at all times," said Nick. "It was pretty amazing."
Since then, Nick and his family have made it their mission to give back and help support other children going through the fight of their lives. Nick will be running next Sunday in the RBC Race for the Kids.
“He’s one of the folks that has had a happy ending," said Rita Thodos with the BC Children's Hospital Foundation. "There’s 20 per cent of the kids in oncology (who are) patients that don’t make it, and so we continue fundraising for research and various other programs in the hospital."
“When I was going through it, people ran for me and that made me feel amazing," said Nick. "I hope I can do the same thing for them.”
Nick is now in remission, back at school and feeling healthy while looking at life through a new lens.
"It's wonderful to see," said Kelly Cannon. "It's actually the most joy I've ever had."
While the Vancouver race is at capacity, there are other ways to contribute and participate in the fundraiser.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Police investigating shooting outside of Drake's Bridle Path mansion: source
Toronto police are investigating a shooting that took place outside of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion early Tuesday morning, a source tells CP24.
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
3 Indian nationals accused of murdering Hardeep Singh Nijjar facing court in B.C.
Three Indian nationals accused of murdering Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar are due to face court Tuesday over the killing that triggered a major diplomatic rift with India.
Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza's vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as cease-fire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife's edge.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
Highlights from the 2024 Met Gala exhibit: Sleeping Beauty would wake up for these gowns
Sure, she was a royal princess and all. But there’s no way Sleeping Beauty — either before or after her nap — ever had quite the fabulous wardrobe that’s been assembled at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.