Thankfully I still know many grad students at UofW and was able to attend both the public lecture at night and the private, more scientific, lecture during the day. The talks were both entertaining and thought provoking as he opened up the discussion on the usefulness of oncogene targeted cancer therapies for research and if it is really where we should be focusing.

Since researchers at the lecture focus on this type of research (Spy1 and PTEN) and you could really feel the clash of ideas flowing. Dr. Mak’s lab of course does research on the areas he was suggesting people shouldn’t look into as well as areas he suggested they should. He also made note that the two greatest cancer drugs are targeted therapies (Herceptin and Gleevec) but believes the answer to curing cancer lies in targeting metabolic processes. His lecture was more about keeping an open mind about how we look to solve problems as well getting the whole picture and never stop questioning how things are done.

One of most memorable moments of the public talk (for me anyway) was referring to Archimedes’ passion for science and experimentation. When the roman’s finally captured Syracuse a guard came running up to him, sword drawn, and ready to kill. Archimedes asked the soldier to hold off killing him until he finished an experiment he was working on. The soldier didn’t understand and killed him. Dr. Mak remarks that it is this kind of passion for science that will shape tomorrow but as he puts it “if someone runs at you with a sword, run away!”

It was a real honour to meet Dr. Mak and I got that same feeling in my gut while talking to him as I did when I met Adam West (Batman). After the lecture we headed to the keg for some drinks and some discussion about potential cancer research targets. I’m not going lie, it was a great night.

This weekend was the 4th annual Running from Cancer event in Windsor Ontario. The 5k/10k/Half-Marathon events raise money for both the Windsor Regional Hospital and the Windsor and Essex County Cancer Centre Foundation.

This was my first year in this event, and I wouldn’t have known about it if wasn’t for Lee-Anne. With only my hockey training, I was looking to finish before the people that looked like they were one cookie away from a heart attack, and after the people who had clothes designed for running. Most of the race was a blur mentally, and was mostly just me repeating to myself things about ‘just keep running’ in a ‘Finding Nemo’ sort of way. However I do remember a few moments of diverse thought.

• As a pack of 15 year olds in soccer uniforms passed me: I’ll catch them later
• As my shoelace fell apart: F***ing shoelace
• As I reached the half way point: It would take me longer to walk back now, might as well keep running.
• As I finished: F***ing Soccer Players

As I sat breathless with my camera taking pictures of the winners at the award ceremony, I was caught off guard when the over enthusiastic running announcer called out my name. As I staggered towards the trophy table, partially blinded by the bright yellow volunteer shirt worn by the ladies passing out awards, I tried to figure out what was going on. It was explained to me that trophies were given out to top racers in each age division, and that apparently the ‘real’ first place runner in my age class (20min) already got an award for placing 3rd overall, so I was bumped up since I finished second in my age range (which was a surprise to me to begin with). We raised some money to fight cancer, got some plastic to put on my desk, and reminded myself why I need to run more. All in all, it was a good morning.