Cancer sucks.

It sucks life out of its victims: the men, women, youth, and children who fight the disease to their last, laboured breath. It sucks hope and happiness from the loved ones left behind, the friends and family members who have to muster the will to collect the remnants of their shattered lives and move forward.

Cancer doesn't care.

It doesn't care whom it attacks - the elderly, the frail, teenagers in peak health before the disease washes through them like a tsunami- it attacks good people, in some cases bad people.

Cancer targets babies and toddlers too young to comprehend that it is about to sweep their young lives out from under them.

It killed Terry Fox, who ran for cancer research, close to 42 kilometres a day through Canada's Atlantic provinces, Quebec, and Ontario in 1980 before the disease spread into his lungs.

It's killed millions worldwide. Maybe cancer stole the life of someone you know, someone you love.

Cancer has lots of enemies.

Hundreds of its adversaries gathered at Hammond Stadium Sunday morning for the Maple Ridge Terry Fox Run.

Their combined efforts raised $34,000 for cancer research.

Meanwhile, Ryley Hatchard, a Grade 12 student at Westview Secondary, is trying to make a difference with the help of her school and surrounding community. Ryley's goal is to raise $10,000 in 20 days, in time for her school's Terry Fox Run next Thursday, Sept. 27. You can donate directly to Ryley's cause online through her sponsorship page. Visit http: //my.e2rm.com/ personalPage.aspx?registrationID=15958 73#.UEl3tX0g7_N.facebook.

As Terry Fox demonstrated 32 years ago, every step counts in the hope of one day making this sinister disease history, once and for all.

- T.L.