admin @Box Run

Hey Everyone,

This is a space that we created to allow individials and families to share their battles, victories and losses suffered from this horrible disease.

Box Run Team

Hailey Patrick

Hi,

I’m Hailey Patrick I got diagnoist with leukemia on August 20th 2010.
Leukemia is a type of blood cancer. I was nine years old and I am now 11 years old. When I look back on everything it is all a blur. I collect beads and I have collected over 900 beads. (Bravery beads are awarded to chikldren battling cancer- different beads for needles, chemo, CT’s, surgery etc.)

(Note from Mom)

Hailey’s chemo treatments are for 25 months (we are at about 18 months) she currently receives chemo once a week. Hailey underwent a Lumbar Puncture(chemo in the spinal fluid) and a Bone Marrow test this past Tuesday. Despite lying in bed with headache, backpain, nausea she still wanted to post a note to Mike and the team. These kids are tough!!!

Mike and Heater’s Heroes approached us last summer and asked what we needed. At the time we were travelling from Fort Erie to MacMaster(hamilton) 2 times a week. Our vehicle was older and ailing. Heaters Heroes helped us to purchase a newer more reliable van to get Hailey safely to her treatments.
I personally SHOUT OUT to all to support Mike in his run- no donation is ever too small.

Good Luck Mike and team
We check your website every day,

The Patrick Family

Jeremy Griffiths

My name is Jeremy Griffiths, and like so many others, cancer has been a long-time enemy of my family. Most notably, my father William Griffiths had battled cancer for 8 years before finally going down fighting in Oct. 2008. Shortly after in Feb. 2011 his younger brother, my Uncle Derwyn Griffiths passed from Bone cancer.

Both men were Black Belts in Shotokan Karate, and did go down fighting, but in the end, their skills and strength were no match Cancer.

Cancer has taken the lives of family on my mother’s side too so when Mike Strange had asked me if I wanted to be part of the “BoxRun Team”, I was irresistibly drawn to this cause in effort to avenge the death of my Father, and relatives.

This is a great thing you’re doing Mike, and I’m happy to offer all the support I possibly can to the “BoxRun Team” in effort to KO cancer!!!

Sincerely,

JG

Lana Hill – Kelsey’s mom

Kelsey Hill was only 13 years old when she lost her battle to a brain tumour. Kelsey fought for 15 months enduring 3 brain surgeries; 36 radiation treatments to brain and spine; 6 months of chemotherapy; over 600 needlepokes to her body and the left side of her body was paralyzed.

Despite the terrible treatments and feeling lousy most of the time, Kelsey never complained and she never felt sorry for herself. Kelsey always wanted to help other children and families, hence, Team Kelsey was created.

Kelsey met Mike Strange and they became very good friends. Kelsey was an inspiration to Mike and continues to be . . . Kelsey is running beside Mike every step of the way along his incredible journey to help other children suffering with cancer.

Mike is now an inspiration to so many people and is a hero to us. Thank you Mike for including Kelsey in your journey and fighting for Matteo and so many others. What you are doing is truly amazing!

Always positive thoughts and energy coming your way from Team Kelsey!

Lana, Derek, Megan and Corrie Hill <3 ☮

Brandon Caruana

Hi, my name is Brandon Caruana,
I was diagnosed in Sept.2009 with a brain tumour when I was 7 years old, I went for treatments at McMaster and I am 10 years old now.
I think it’s awesome what Mike is doing for all of us kids.I hope a cure is found soon so others don’t have to go through what we did.

I like your Team Kelsey shirt, I met Kelsey at Mac, she was a nice person.Go Team Kelsey!

Paul Parkin

Regardless of age, it seems like everyone you talk to is somehow directly effected by cancer. I unfortunately lost my father last year (prostate leading to bone cancer) at 60 years old and his determination to fight the disease over his final years is something I’ll never forget. Mike, what you are doing is such an inspiration to so many. Goes to show what type of person you truly are. Once again you’ll see your country routing you on! For all of you fighting cancer, keep up your spirits, you have no idea what an inspiration you are to others.

Keep fighting,

Paul Parkin

Corrie Hill

Hi Everyone!

It is so amazing what Mike Strange is doing! Mike and Kelsey met at a fundraiser for Heater’s Heroes and became very good friends.
Kelsey was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour in September of 2010. Throughout her battle Kesley showed amazing courage and strength. Instead of feeling sorry for herself she was determined to help other families with children who were suffering from this horrible disease. Unfortunately, Kelsey lost her battle December 13, 2011. However, it is so amazing to see how many people Kelsey has inspired to keep the fight going to hopefully find a cure and K.O. cancer!
I have participated in a 5k run with The Brain Tumour Foundation’s Spring Sprint in Hamilton in May 2011. Kelsey supported me every step of the way and high fived me after each lap. I also got the chance to be a medal bearer in The Rick Hansen 25th Anniversary Relay which raised money to find a cure for spinal cord injuries and also to raise awareness regarding wheelchair accessibility in our communites. I was so honoured to have my baby sister by my side as she was the reason I became a medal bearer.

Mike I just wanted to let you know that I am so honoured to have met you. It is truly an amazing thing you’re doing. Like my mom has said you are definately a hero to us! Also thank you for including my sister in your journey. I know for a fact that she will be with you every step of the way.

GO TEAM KELSEY! <3 ☮

Corrie Hill-Kelsey's older sister

Marc Arroza @@omarrayman1

Hey Mike, you’re doing awesome! You’re inspiring and really making a difference in so many young lives that need the motivation to fight a battle against cancer. One of our family friends’ 11-yr old Marc Arroza is one of those that is in the fight of his life against something called Acute Myeloid Leukemia, a form of childhood cancer. He’s from St. Catharines, but he’s currently receiving treatment at McMaster in Hamilton. Last February Marc’s school, Mother Teresa Catholic School held a fundraiser on Marc’s behalf which some of our shared friends from Niagara supported. I think it would mean so much to Marc if you could please give him a shout out of encouragement during one of your videos, I’ll make sure he sees it. Keep that strength going, we’ll keep cheering you on like extended family from the Falls. – Omar

NEVER GIVE UP MARC.

Susie Mowers

I wish so badly that Mike wasn’t right when he said that cancer touches every single person in this country, every single day. But he is. And it sucks.

I lost my uncle to cancer a few years ago. Before he passed, I remember thinking how hard it must be for someone to return home from chemo treatments and look at their three children, and wife. I can’t imagine a bigger heartbreak.

How fitting it is, that Canada’s best fighter is taking on Canada’s biggest fight.

Courage, love & strength to you, Mike.
The entire country is behind you.

Brandon Caruana

Hi Mike,

I just wanted to say, keep up the fight, when I was very sick, my Mom would tell me you have to get through the bad to get to the good. She was right, thats what I want to say to you, you can do it! I did!
I would like to meet you with my family when you return to Niagara Falls.
Thank you
Brandon Caruana

Heather Ferretti

Hi Mike,
My name is Heather, and I am one of Kelsey Hill’s former teachers. We miss her terribly – she is so loved by the students and staff at our school. We are so proud to see you running for team Kelsey! It is clear to see her courageous and fearless spirit shining through you as you begin this incredible journey. Today, I spent some time with the Grade 7 class watching your videos and reading through your website. We wanted to send you a message of encouragement and thanks – keep running, and keep fighting! We are behind you.
All the best,
Heather Ferretti

Christine

Thank you for what your doing, very brave and generous. I lost my wonderful sweet cousin at age 17 to lung cancer and last week lost a huge inspiration and great friend to liver cancer who was just 39.

Janice Shearer @@RMHouseHamilton

Hi Mike

I am a distance runner, so I know the challenges you are facing each day on the road. I also work at Ronald McDonald House Hamilton and have had the priviledge of knowing Kelsey Hill, Brandon Caruana and so many of the children and families you are running for. Nothing, not the last km’s in a marathon, the last punch in the ring, the last 30 seconds on the ice, comes close to challenges these kids and families face during their journey with cancer. Thank you for demonstrating to them all, your respect and admiration for their courage and strength. I hope when your jounrney is complete that I get the chance to meet you personally to thank you. Good luck and as Brandon said in an earlier post – “you got to go through the bad to get to the good”. Keep on running!

Tammy Culligan (Huffman)

It will be 8 years this August since we lost our father to cancer. He fought hard and kept brave for his family for 2 years before he lost the battle. It was so very sad to watch him suffer the way he did. I can only imagine what he was going through. It’s such an awful thing for anyone of any age to have to go through. We need more people in the world like you, Mike. Being a Niagara Falls resident, I am so very proud of you and what you are doing. You are truly an inspiration to all. Sending you my best wishes for your journey.

Michelle Glover

I really wish it weren’t true when you say that cancer affects everyone – from friends to family who fight through this ugly disorder. My father in law was recently diagnosed with throat cancer. He starts radiation and chemo this week and has a 50% success rate with the treatment. If this doesn’t work then he will lose his voice box. My sisters father-in-law was also just diagnosed with cancer in his jaw and will be going through a 10 hours surgery to remove and reconstruct his jaw bone. It’s a long road ahead for both of these amazing men!
What you are doing is truly inspirational Mike! Keep up the amazing journey! You have a ton of support!

Erin

Hi Mike my name is Erin McKee.
I have been a classmate and friend of Kelsey’s ever since kindergaten. What you have decided to do is a great way to remember her legacy and Team Kelsey. There were many people who knew Kelsey well and she touched many people who didn’t know her, either way they were still admiring her story and everyone involved. I cannot thank you enough for getting a word out there about cancer itself and about Kelsey. I also send my best wishes out to Matteo and his family. Thanks again Mike Strange!

The Creighton family

I had the pleasure of meeting Mike here in Winnipeg.

What an exceptional person to be going on this journey.

He represent the heart of what it means to be a Canadian.

He fights for all thoses in the battle with cancer,all those who have defeated cancer and those who will be faced with cancer.

I lost my mother in law to pancreatic cancer over three years ago.

I can still remember having to tell my wife who was 5 months pregnant with our second child ,her Mom had cancer and it’s very far advanced.

I can still remember trying to explain to our 2 and a half year old son, that his Grandma was very sick.

We would visit her everyday, when she went into the hospital and our son would always pick the flowers from the Lilac tree to give to her as she laid in the hospital bed.

One of the most heart breaking days during her battle with cancer came on the day I had to bring her down in her wheel chair to my wife’s first ultrasound.

She told me she was happy to see her grandchild and told me she wished she could be here when he was born,but she known she couldn’t be.

She told me to take care of her daughter and our children and thanked us for a wonderful life.

She was a wonderful lady who is missed by so many.

Mike your run across our great country means more that you can imagine.

Thank you

Tammy Compare

Hi Mike, I just wanted to say what a wonderful thing you are doing to raise awareness and fight this horrid disease. We lost my dad 15 years ago to eosophageal cancer which is a horrible horrible cancer, he caouldnt eat, drink and he wasted away to under 100 pounds in less than a year. He died 10 months after being diagnosed and it was a very sad time in my life. Of all the things you go through when someone you love so deeply is so sick the hardest part was seeing the pain in his eyes as he knew he would be leaving us! He was not scared to go but he was devistated by the fact he had to leave us. I wish I could have taken away that pain from him but now as a parent I totally understand what he felt. We would do anything to protect our children and not ever see them suffer or hurt. I commend you on this amazing journey you are making, thank you on behalf of all the sick children out there, You will be truly blessed one day Mike for all your efforts. Although I suppose doing this you probably already feel blessed!!!

Carol Hauser

I lost my Grandfather and my mother to cancer; have two cousins that have had breast cancer and two very close friends that have battled breast cancer in the last 6 years. Cancer is a terrible disease that affects everyone at one time or another. As a marathon runner, I know how difficult it is to run one marathon a year – never mind what Terry Fox did with one leg and what you are doing now! It boggles the mind and must beat up the body beyond anything I can imagine. I wish you luck and good health so you can finish what Terry started.

Rebecca Klassen

What you are doing is truly inspirational and a great way to keep cancer awareness front and center. I remember growing up and the Terry Fox run being a big deal, doing walks with my school every year to remember and celebrate it. Unfortunately it seems people are forgetting what an amazing human being he truly was and how courageous his fight was. Thank you so very much for keeping his memory alive and paying tribute to him.

I have had too many loved ones with cancer in my 30 years. Currently two of my uncles are fighting their cancer along with my aunt who fought through stage 3 breast cancer. Though she is technically not in remission her last scan was clean that we know of. If not for people like you, I’m not sure if that would be the case. Thank you so much for what you are doing.

Janice Ratz @@janice2222

Hi Mike and Casey,
I had the pleasure of meeting both of you this morning at the Cando office in Brandon. I didn’t tell you when you were there but your speech about cancer really hit home with me as I lost my dad last year with it. Yesterday was my birthday so I remember vividly that a year ago yesterday, my dad went into ICU in the middle of the night and we were basically told he wouldn’t make the morning. My dad was a fighter though and hung on and fought it another 5+ weeks before finally succumbing to the dreaded disease. I can empathize with you Casey as I know you are running for very personal reasons right now yourself. I wish you all of the luck in the remainder of your journey and hope that as you continue on, that the support just keeps getting stronger and stronger.

Raedene

Hi all….I went to HS with Mike and am so proud of what he is doing….But I have lost so many to Cancer. My grandfather, uncle, grandmother, step-father, and my mom. I was married in Oct of 2004 and in Dec she was diagnosed with a primary brain tumor GBM stage 4 at 59 years old and only 2 years after losing her husband to cancer also. She was the healthiest person I knew. My hubby and I were living in NC and we quit our jobs and moved back to NFO to live with her and help her through her treatments at the Hamilton Cancer Center…..those 1.5 hr drives in the winter are something I will never forget….But she fought hard and after 10 months it got the best of her. It was the most difficult thing I have ever experienced and I lost my brother at 16 also…I now have 3 beautiful kids and wish more than anything that they knew their grandma, Sheila Spear. In her memory. I thank you Mike Strange for this journey and attention you are bringing to this dreadful disease that kills more in southern ontario than heart attack and stroke combined!

Laurence Kastanes

Keep working ,terrific job!

Mark Burrows

Hello Mike:
We’ve only met a few times, through the soccer boys of Niagara, and I have been following the BOXRUN on FB. I lost my sister Deborah to cancer on March 25/12 having battled for 2 1/2 years. It’s a terrible disease and I appreciate what you are doing. I wish you all the best in your journey. I will be watching for you as you pass through Surrey BC.

paige

hi my name is PaigeI wanted to say if you have finish the race.You are a great at running fast

Amy Sheppard

I would like to thank you for everything that you have done and are still currently doing. In the past years I have contributed greatly to relay for life whether that was volunteering or putting together a team. One year I managed to fundraiser over 15,000 for cancer through school, sports, the community, friends and pf course family.
Cancer has had a great impact on my life. When I was 7 years old, my hero, role model and father was diagnosed with cancer. He had his left kidney removed and continued to live. After moving, parents separating and I moved to live with my dad. He was diagnosed with cancer again, this time on his humerus. After radiation, it wore the bone to nothin and had to have surgery to have a metal rod in place for support. Claiming that the cancer was gone, it returned to his lungs. At age 13 I moved to my moms and was told he wouldn’t make it to Christmas of that year. This was August at the time. On November 4 2006, I went to see my dad and their was nothing left of him. He couldn’t talk, open his eyes, the only thing moving was his chest and it was keepin him alive. He had lost from 80-100 pounds and was just nothing. I had to tell my own dad that it was okay for him to die.

Every year gets harder and I Try to do what I can to put a end to this horrible disease that has effected and devastated many. I refuse to put myself in any contact with cancer because it is my only fear. It has taken the most important person from me, and I do believe we can find a cure.

Losing my dad at such a young age, I do not want this to happen to other children. I will do what I can to help those children and provide them the strength that it will be okay.

I am now soon turning 19. I graduated with h father in my heart and see his head stone every year in the rememberence of having him in my life. I want to thank you for providing me the strength and knowledge that people out there are finding a cure.

Fernando Heuring

Hello there, just became alert to your blog through Google, and found that it’s really informative. I am going to watch out for brussels. I will appreciate if you continue this in future. Many people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!

Austin Lewis

when you presented at the calgary science school, you reminded me of my cousin brandon. he has lung cancer. i visited him last week in Minnesota.

Nima Hemati

Dear Mr. Strange,
I saw your presentation at Calgary and I just wanted to cheer you on!
Sincerely Nima

alexa

My Grandma and great grandma past away recently

Kierah Patterson

Hi Mike,

My name is Kierah and i am a student at the Calgary Science School. Today you came and made a presentation about what you are doing. I think its great that you have taken on this task and changed so many peoples lives. You are an amazing person and i wish you the best on your jorney.

Sincerly-

Kierah, 10

Nima Hemati

Dear Mr. Strange,

I am also a student at Calgary Science School and all but one of my grandparents are suffering from a disease that will make them forget most of the things they know.

I hope they will get better soon and I believe in them that they will.

Sincerely, Nima

sharon bowman

I lost my parents to this dreaded disease – cancer. My beloved mom died when she was in her 54th year and my wonderful rock of a dad died in his 71st year. Much much too soon and I feel like an orphan and my sons were robbed of grandparents. This disease destroys not only the afflicted ones but their families who suffer along day by day. Research is ongoing but cures are eons away and to anyone who has a parent suffering with cancer right now – make sure you tell them how much they r loved and give them an extra hug or kiss because I would trade everything for just 5 more minutes with my parents…………God bless you Mr. Strange and anyone else who pledges, walksm runs, bikes or contributes in any way to the fight with cancer – someday it will matter when a cure is found!

Del and Lee Ann

Hi Mike,

My wife and I met in Niagara we love it their and miss it. We currently live in Ottawa. In March 2011 our two year old son Anderson was diagnosed with T-All Leukemia. He is so incredibly strong and doing very well …two more years of treatment. We love what you are doing and follow your video blogs.

Keep going!

smilesforandy

Maeve

Mike,

I loved your presentation. It was very inspiering and heart warmingand it reminded me of my grandmother who died of kidney cancer so what I think you are doing would make her very happy.

Wish you luck,
Maeve

Maeve

Mike,
Your presentation was very inspiering and very heart warming. It reminded me of my grandmother who died of kidny cancer.

She would have loved the presentation.

Wish you luck,
Maeve

Jazmyn

On Septermber 9 2010 at the age of 39 my aunt Tina Piro passed away due to cancer. She was an amazing mom ,wife ,sister, aunt ,and great aunt.Through her battle she was always happy and stayed positive. I think its amazing what your doing , your a big inspiration to many of us.

Brandon Caruana

Hi Mike and Team,

Your doing a great job!!! Everyone is so proud of you, your almost home free!!

Brandon Caruana