Remembering Sindy Hooper

In memory of Sindy Hooper, donations for this year’s Richmond Road Races will be going to support pancreatic cancer research at the Ottawa Hospital. The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute conducts research to improve understanding of pancreatic cancer and to develop new treatments. The hospital is one of Canada’s top cancer research centres, with a team of scientists, clinician investigators, trainees, and staff.

Sindy Hooper, a fixture of the Ottawa running community passed away on Friday, September 13. Hooper was a well known member of the Ottawa running community. Her perseverance, strength, and positive attitude has been, and will continue to be, a source of inspiration to those in our community and beyond.

Hooper completed the Boston Marathon three times, and was an elite marathon runner and triathlete. She was a symbol of resilience and courage, and a fundraising champion. Hooper and her team raised awareness for pancreatic cancer, and gave hope to others dealing with pancreatic cancer.

Hooper started Marathoners Gone Viral in 2013, now known as the Make Every Moment Count (MEMC) team, after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Even in the face of uncertainty, she pushed forward, withstanding chemotherapy and radiation treatments so well that she continued her training for Ironman Canada that same year. 

In 2015, Hooper challenged her family and friends to join her and the MEMC team to participate in the 2015 Ottawa Marathon to raise awareness for pancreatic cancer. An astonishing 132 participants signed up to run with her, and they raised $110,000 for the Ottawa Hospital Foundation. The MEMC team has returned to Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend every year since. She has raised more than $500,000 for pancreatic cancer research, most of which has gone to pancreatic cancer research at The Ottawa Hospital.

In 2021, after defying the odds and living cancer-free for nine and a half years, Hooper received unfortunate news: doctors had found one metastasis in her left lung, resulting in a treatment of three rounds of chemotherapy. Devastatingly, one year later three more metastases were found. This led to a terminal diagnosis for Hooper and she began palliative chemotherapy radiation in October of 2022. 

In January of 2024, Hooper began a U.S. clinical trial of a new drug for patients with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer, but after receiving the unfortunate news of her cancer spreading, she stopped clinical trials and started oral chemotherapy in August of that year.

Despite this devastating setback, Hooper completed the Ottawa 5K presented by Asics Runkeeper in 57:32 with 14 members of her MEMC Team alongside her in May of 2024—Raising an amazing $66,088.06 for cancer research and the Ottawa Hospital Foundation.

“I’ve never seen anything like it before: Sindy is an inspiration to so many,” “From the first day of her diagnosis, she has been looking to make a difference.”

• Tim Kluke, president and CEO of The Ottawa Hospital Foundation 

“Sindy teaches me every day to live like that team name. She inspires me and so many others. She created this huge running team and each year we give back to research.”

• Janet McKeage

Hooper inspired and taught so many people to “Make Every Moment Count”. She encouraged others to be active, and inspired hope for other pancreatic cancer survivors. The team at Run Ottawa is very saddened by the news of Hooper’s passing. She will continue to motivate each of us to cherish each day, focus on the positives, remain resilient, and to persevere through challenges.

“The last 10 years haven’t been all about me: They’ve been about giving back. I don’t know why that became so important to me. But I’ve also learned a lot about community: Having the love and support of your family and friends is huge in getting through something like this.”

• Sindy Hooper

With her team, Hooper gave back by raising funds for pancreatic cancer research at The Ottawa Hospital through Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend’s Desjardins Charity Challenge. You can continue her legacy of raising awareness of pancreatic cancer, inspiring hope for survivors by donating to Team MEMC and the Ottawa Hospital Foundation.