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
Breast cancer screening should start at age 40, Canadian Cancer Society says
The Canadian Cancer Society says all provinces and territories should lower the starting age for breast cancer screening to 40.
DEVELOPING Live updates as Stormy Daniels testifies at Trump hush money trial
Adult film star Stormy Daniels is on the stand a second time Thursday as former U.S. president Donald Trump’s hush money case continues in Manhattan. Follow live updates here.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Canadian-Israeli man shot dead in Egypt; claim links killing to Gaza
A Canadian man 'of Jewish Israeli descent' has been shot dead in the Egyptian city of Alexandria in a suspected criminal case, a security source said, while a previously unknown militant group said it carried out the attack in reaction to the war in Gaza.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
Why these immigrants to Canada say they're thinking about leaving, or have already moved on
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Bank of Canada says financial system is stable, but risks remain
The Bank of Canada says the Canadian financial system is stable, but risks remain due to debt servicing costs among households and businesses and stretched valuations of financial assets.
BREAKING Sheldon Keefe out as head coach of Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have fired head coach Sheldon Keefe. The team made the announcement Thursday after the Original Six franchise lost to the Boston Bruins in seven games in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.