Sharone Maldaver took to the stage set up in front of the SS Klondike, beneath a gray, gloomy sky.

But the 69-year-old didn't see it that way. She addressed the crowd of roughly 300 people gathered on the grass.

"I'm very happy to be alive. … Exactly a year ago today, I was over there in the big green building across the river, I was 89 lbs., my breast cancer had spread to my lungs and my liver, I had a lump under my arm that was growing daily, I was in excruciating pain – so I was on 60 milligrams of morphine a day – and I was writing my last will and testament. Pitiful.”

Maldaver was the guest speaker at Sunday's Terry Fox Run, sharing the stage with organizer George Maratos and musical act Kevin Barr. Fitness instructor Adam Thompson, who led an aerobic warm up for participants, proudly proclaimed that the day marked his mother's last chemotherapy session.

This year's run drew 275 participants and 25 volunteers who helped raise $6,700 toward cancer research, $500 of which was raised by the barbecue alone. Those numbers were down from last year's record-breaking showing of 330 runners and walkers and $9,228 funds raised.

Maratos was pleased with this year's numbers, despite the drop.

"Sixty-seven hundred dollars is always a good thing,” he said.

"Seeing that many people out is great, especially when you look at why we're there, to honour a remarkable athlete and Canadian and to raise awareness and funds for the cause. And that's what we did on Sunday. It was a little chilly to be out in shorts running around, but I'm sure it was chilly at 5 a.m. everyday Terry Fox would get up too, and I think a lot of people realize that.”

Runners and walkers (and cyclists, roller bladers, skateboarders, etc.) took to the Millennium Trail to raise money, support loved ones, remember those who passed away from cancer and pay homage to Fox.

Diagnosed with cancer when he was 18-years-old, Fox was forced to have part of his right leg amputated. Less than two years later, he began training for the Marathon of Hope. Starting from St. John's, N.L., as a nobody, Fox ran 143 marathons – 42 kilometres – every day. He amassed 5,373 km while running with a prosthetic leg. He died on June 28, 1981.

But with the help of his mother, Betty Fox, who passed away this summer, his legacy lives on.

Prior to this year's Terry Fox Run, more than $550 million had been raised in Fox's name through the annual run.

Maratos said a major part of running the event yearly in Whitehorse is to keep Fox's legacy alive and to educate young people of his importance.

"A lot of young people maybe don't know who Terry Fox is, and if there wasn't runs like this, they won't,” Maratos said.

"If Terry Fox didn't have cancer, and he did what he did, it would be an amazing accomplishment athletically. For kids to know just that side of it – but the fact that he did this with the idea to raise awareness about cancer and the need to find a cure – I think that's what happens with these events.”

And knowing there are Yukoners going through what Fox went through with the disease helps bring the message closer to home, he noted.

"They're learning about Sharone, for example, someone locally that's going through this battle, and maybe with that, changing their lifestyle,” Maratos said, adding of her speech: "It was both humorous and touching and a nice ice-breaker.

Those can be moments that tear people up before they have to go, I think there was that, but also there were also some good laughs, and I think it was great for her to be out there as well and know the community is supporting her.”

That community support has helped Maldaver with her three-year battle with breast cancer.

"This community is just unbelievable, how much support they give to give to all of us, to people who need it,” she said. "I can't think of a better place to be. I never imagined how much people are supportive. People you don't even know offer to help. I think it's an amazing community in that way, and I'm proud to be a part of it.”

An advocate of natural treatments, Maldaver has worked with InspireHealth, a B.C.-based integrated cancer care centre and tried the Bruess Total Cancer Treatment, which includes dietary guidelines based on a 42 day cleansing fast.

Due to Maldaver's aggressive form of cancer, she underwent chemotherapy at Whitehorse General Hospital.

That treatment nearly zapped the life out of her, she said.

"That pretty well wiped me out. I felt more dead than alive. It took me quite a few months before I started to feel like I could be out again. I'm just getting back to having more energy.”

Being through the battle has helped her put Fox's efforts into prospective.

"I just always thought he was an incredibly brave soul,” Maldaver said.

"I think that even more so now.

"I can't repeat it enough: it's all about love, about love and support. It's just incredible what that can do. I've read about and heard about so many miracles happening. They're just from people believing, believing in themselves and believing in others. I think that's really important.”

When asked the status of her condition, Maldaver said, "I call it dancing with cancer. I'm dancing with cancer.

"I'm here today, I'm here at this moment. I just have to be grateful that I'm here on this glorious, golden day and to not be sad about that but to be happy. My cup is half full, not half empty.”