7 Days In May

Jeff Green | May 22, 2024

In 2022, Sharbot Lake's Mia Craig cycled 1100 kilometres as part of the 7 Days in May fundraising event, which raises funds for research into pancreatic cancer, in association with Pancreatic Cancer Canada.

The ride was an emotional as well as physical effort of Craig, who was riding in honour of her mother, Marina Mauri-Morsani, who died of Pancreatic Cancer in April of 2021.

In an article that was published in the Frontenac News at the time, Mia Craig talked about the devastating impacts of a Pancreatic Cancer diagnosis.

According to information published on the Pancreatic Cancer Canada website, it has the highest mortality rate of any major cancer, a five-year survival rate of 10%, with seventy per cent of patients dying within one year of diagnosis.

“Pancreatic cancer is currently the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Canada, yet it continues to be underfunded, overlooked, and outpaced in research,” the website goes on to say.

In fact, according to Mia Craig that 10% five-year survival rate represents an improvement in recent years, up from only 5%.

A major goal for Pancreatic Cancer is to promote early detection of Pancreatic Cancer, because most of the time it is not diagnosed until it reaches stage 4, with devastating consequences.

She completed the ride in 2022, all 1100 kilometres, along with 20 or so other intrepid riders.

Although she was very fit, she was daunted by the ride before undertaking it.

“It is going to be tough, even for an avid cyclist like me. I have prepared as much as I can, but the effort involved is similar to running a marathon, and then you do it again for 6 more days,” she said a the time

She also raised over $10,000 through sponsorships that year, well above her target of $7,000. And since all expenses related to the 7 Days in May fundraiser are borne by the riders and the core of volunteers supporting, all of that money went into research.

Mia suffered a collarbone injury in 2022, which required surgery, and participated in the ride virtually in 2023. She also helps her two children with their own informal 7 days in May ride. Ever since 2020, Sloan and Xavier, who are now 11 and 81/2, have cycled varying distances each day for a week. They raise money with this effort and it is included in Mia’s total

Flash forward to this week. On Monday, Mia, Sloan and Xavier rode to Sharbot Lake and back home as part of the family effort, stopping for ice cream at the Cardinal Cafe along the way.

Later that day, Mia rode to Kingston as part of her training for 7 days in May, 2024, which starts next Monday (May 27) in Peterborough.

She is not planning to ride the full 7 days this year, as she continues to recover her fitness after her collarbone injury, but will ride at least 3 days (500 kilometres) and work as a support volunteer on the other 4 days. The route runs from Peterborough, to Bancroft, through Algonquin Park and back to the Muskoka’s and the Peterborough area this year.

Mia will be riding the Algonquin Park stretch, and is particularly looking forward to that ride, which is long one.

“There is a lot of time to think while riding long hours like that. It can be very meditative, and riding through the park, where I have personal history, will be special for me,” she said.

Asked whether she intends to bump up to the full 1100 kilometre in a future year, she did not hesitate.

“Absolutely,” she said.

Her fundraising goal this year is $10,000, and she has raised $6,800 thus far.

To support her ride or for further information about 7 days in May, go to www.pancreaticcancercanada.ca/7-days-ride/information.

To sponsor Mia in particular, click on Sponsor a Rider, and type her name in the form that pops up.

What she has learned is not comforting. Pancreatic cancer is among the deadliest of all cancers, with a 93% mortality rate, and 75% of those who are diagnosed die within one year of the diagnosis.