10th Cedars Run in TMR honours founder Dominique Dagenais
Posted October 19, 2025 11:20 am.
Last Updated October 19, 2025 6:33 pm.
Families, hospital employees, cancer patients, and survivors gathered on Sunday for the 10th annual Dominique Dagenais Cedars Run for Ovarian Cancer in TMR.
The event raised funds for the DOvEEgene Research Program, led by MUHC gynecological oncologist Dr. Lucy Gilbert. The program developed a genomic PAP test capable of detecting ovarian and endometrial cancers as early as stage 1—offering new hope against diseases that often went undetected until it was too late.
Participants took part in a 2km run/walk, a timed 5km run/walk, and a timed 10km run.
This year’s run held special significance as it honoured the memory of Dominique Dagenais, who passed away in March 2025.
“I’m sure she’s looking up from above, and she’s the one making sure it’s a nice day today, and that we’re all here, and she would be so proud,” said Maxime Joly-Smith, co-founder of Dominique Dagenais Cedars Run for ovarian cancer.
Seasoned long-distance runner, Dominique was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2015. Despite her diagnosis, she transformed her personal battle into a public mission, founding the Dagenais Joly Smith Fund with her husband Stephen and son Maxime. The fund raised over $1.2 million for the DOvEEgene Research Program.
“Honestly, if it wasn’t for the private funding, I mean, public does give money, but you need private funding for advances in medicine, because it really gives a big push,” said Joly-Smith. “Because public funding only is not enough for these kind of programs to happen.
As Cedars celebrated this 10-year milestone, it reaffirmed its commitment to Dominique’s dream of a future where no woman is lost to cancer, whether ovarian or endometrial.
