Next month, a Shelburne native who recently beat leukemia will be running nearly 400 km from Ottawa to Toronto to raise money for blood cancer research. It’s his way of giving back to the doctors, nurses and researchers at Princess Margaret Hospital.

In April 2005, Nikolaus Sands noticed a lymph node swelling on the right side of his neck. He didn’t feel sick or tired and finished the school term at Carleton University, where he’s studying Environmental Studies. Nikolaus also competed in the Ottawa Marathon that May.

Over the summer the lymph node continued to grow and smaller nodes began emerging. In August he was referred to a specialist at the Ottawa Civic Hospital where a biopsy was performed on the larger lymph node. Although the biopsy was not conclusive the specialist thought Nikolaus might have a form of lymphoma and referred him to a specialist at Princess Margaret Hospital.

After undergoing more tests Nikolaus learned he didn’t have lymphoma, but what he did have was Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML).

He was shocked to be diagnosed with AML at the age of 20, but in a way relieved to have a conclusive diagnosis.

The news was upsetting for his parents, Gail Gaskin and Shawn Sands, who are both teachers. Ms. Gaskin is a kindergarten teacher at Centennial Hylands Elementary school and Mr. Sands teaches alternative education at Orangeville District Secondary School.

Ms. Gaskin took time off work to be with Nikolaus at the hospital while he was undergoing chemotherapy, which he started in September 2005 and finished that December.

He said support he received from his family, the nurses and the doctors at the hospital helped him through his treatment.

After returning to school he began running more than ever. He discovered his love for running when he was 16, and placed second in his first 50 km trail run when he was just 18.

He’s now using his passion for running as a way to give back. While running during a cold, snowy morning in Ottawa, Nikolaus tried to think of ways he could give back to the hospital because he appreciated how much care he received. He decided the best way was to do a fundraising run.

“I decided that I could use my endurance that got me through chemotherapy treatment to run from my home in Ottawa with my running partner Derek Virgo to Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto,” he said in his fundraising letter.

He met Derek while at university, and once they realized they both loved running they started training together. For the upcoming run they are running 80 km a week and biking and swimming three to four times a week.

Nikolaus says this is an event to raise awareness for blood cancer as it’s a disease that doesn’t really receive a lot of publicity. He says that while leukemia sounds really bad, it’s not a death sentence.

“More than anything I want this to bring hope to people,” he says. “When you’re in the hospital it’s kind of hard to imagine yourself finishing treatment and to know that you’ll be fine.”

He’s hoping that seeing a former patient who was in the same position not that long ago and is now completing a major feat will give them that hope. He says a lot of patients sit in the lobby and will be able to see him reach the finish line.

More at citizen.on.ca

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