Team One Academy conquering Melanoma, and the 7 Summits Snowshoe Challenge for Skin Cancer
By: Renée Abrenica
Team One Academy is made up of 9 gym friends who share a mutual love for outdoor adventures, goal setting, and physical challenges. We are trail runners, road runners, obstacle course racers, triathletes, mountain climbers, and self-proclaimed warriors.
One of our teammates, Jesse Bruce, opened One Academy (OA) in 2019. OA is far from being just a gym though. It’s a community that brings people together and lifts people up. It’s a community that challenges and inspires. And it’s also a community that loves to help others when help is needed. When one of our members, Meighan Ferris-Miles, received a trail race registration email with a link to the 7 Summits event page, she sent out a message to the community to gauge interest and within minutes, 9 of us were onboard.
Meighan was diagnosed with Melanoma 20 years ago and has been accumulating battle scars ever since. When I found out about my stage 3 Melanoma diagnosis, last April, Meighan shared her story with me and assured me that I was going to be ok. I can confidently say that I am 8 months into my treatment, and despite the physical reminders on my skin, I am feeling more than ok. It wasn’t an easy first couple of months, but with the support of my family and friends, the amazing doctors at Michael Garron Hospital and without a doubt, my One Academy community, I am feeling strong and healthy.
Melanoma doesn’t get the same kind of attention as other commonly diagnosed cancers, so when the opportunity to set fundraising goals, enjoy an outdoor adventure, and physically challenge ourselves for an important cause serendipitously landed in Meighan’s inbox, it was an easy decision.
Our goal is to collectively accumulate at least 129.87km during the challenge. All 7 summits x 3. It’s a big goal, but that’s how we roll at One Academy.
