For many runners, the 21K de Montréal is measured in tempo, private bests and end strains.
For one Montreal household, this yr’s race is measured in one thing much more private.
Greater than 100 runners will take to the streets in honour of Deborah Petraroia — a spouse, mom and sister remembered for her power, heat and willpower — who died in Might 2025 after a battle with a uncommon and aggressive most cancers.
Deborah Petraroia, a Montreal mom and spouse, who handed away in Might 2025 after being recognized with angiosarcoma, a uncommon and aggressive most cancers. (Submitted by: Gemma Petraroia)
They run as “Group Deborah,” not for competitors, however for remembrance, function and hope.
The group is a part of the 21K Nespresso de Montréal, a two-day occasion that marks the beginning of Quebec’s operating season and attracts hundreds of individuals throughout distances starting from one kilometre to a half-marathon.
However for this group, the end line is just a part of the story.
‘She was the guts of our household’
Deborah’s husband, Eric Paternostro, describes her because the centre of their world — a lady outlined as a lot by her kindness as by her resilience.
“One of the best ways to explain Deborah was she was fierce,” he mentioned. “Only a pretty individual — robust, sleek. She was the guts of our household.”
Identified in early 2024, Deborah confronted her sickness with braveness and dignity. At the same time as her situation worsened, her spirit didn’t.
“She stored combating and she or he stored her fiereness all through the batlle,” Paternostro mentioned. “My job as her husband, I stored her motivated. I stored her… I used to be her boxing coach. I stored her within the ring as a lot as I may.”
She died in Might 2025, abandoning her husband and two younger youngsters, Ella and Dante, who are actually six and 5.
“I don’t suppose they totally perceive, however they perceive that we’re doing this for mommy,” he mentioned.
A group constructed from grief — and love
The concept to run started with one in every of Deborah’s shut pals. It shortly grew into one thing a lot bigger.
“To date we’ve raised near $23,000, and we’ve about 107 runners on our group,” Paternostro mentioned.
Deborah’s sister, Gemma Petraroia, says the trouble has united household, pals and the broader group.
“It’s simply one thing — it’s for our household to proceed honouring her in each approach doable, and that is going to be the primary yr of, I feel, a few years of various kinds of reminiscences we wish to maintain for her,” she mentioned.
Coaching, fundraising occasions and even T-shirt campaigns have turn into a part of that collective effort — a method to carry Deborah ahead in each reminiscence and motion.
“Each time we get drained, we simply have Debra’s voice behind us telling us to go as a result of she was all the time the one, all the time on the go. And so, we simply hold remembering her voice in our heads whereas we hold coaching for this.”
Understanding a uncommon most cancers
Deborah was recognized with angiosarcoma, a uncommon and aggressive most cancers that varieties within the lining of blood vessels.
As a result of blood vessels run all through the physique, the illness can unfold quickly and is commonly troublesome to detect early. It invades important organs and is regularly proof against therapy, leaving sufferers with restricted choices.
The rarity of angiosarcoma additionally means much less public consciousness — and fewer devoted analysis advances in comparison with extra frequent cancers.
For Deborah’s household, that actuality has turn into a driving drive.
This run, they are saying, is just not solely about honouring her life, however about serving to change outcomes for others.
Supporting analysis, creating hope
Funds raised by Group Deborah will help the Most cancers Analysis Society, which says grassroots efforts like this play an important function in advancing most cancers analysis.
Koudjo Oni, the group’s director of income improvement, says the influence goes nicely past fundraising totals.
“It means rather a lot for us, Most cancers Analysis Society, as a result of our mission is to fund most cancers analysis throughout Canada, and to have Group Deborah mobilize greater than 100 runners for the Nespresso 21K and lift funds and in addition elevate consciousness as nicely about most cancers analysis, the significance of most cancers analysis. It means rather a lot for us for our mission, which is to fund most cancers analysis throughout Canada,” he mentioned.
He added that regardless of the dimensions of the problem, analysis continues to enhance outcomes for sufferers.
“Most cancers continues to be the main explanation for loss of life in Canada, however there’s hope because of analysis. The survival charges have elevated because of analysis. And at Most cancers Analysis Society, that’s what we do. We’re one of the vital organizations that’s funding most cancers analysis, and we fund prevention, early detection, and in addition therapy. So, we’re actually grateful for Group Deborah.”
The funds raised will go towards supporting a Canadian researcher within the coming yr, doubtlessly one primarily based in Montreal.
Deborah Petraroia, a Montreal mom and spouse, is seen along with her husband, Eric Paternostro, and their youngsters. She handed away in Might 2025 after being recognized with angiosarcoma, a uncommon and aggressive most cancers. (Submitted by: Gemma Petraroia)
Greater than a race
The 21K Nespresso de Montréal, organized by Courons MTL, is anticipated to carry collectively almost 11,000 individuals this yr. With occasions unfold over two days and distances for all ranges, it has grown into one of many metropolis’s most anticipated operating occasions.
Alongside the competitors, greater than 50 organizations are fundraising, with a collective purpose of $850,000.
However among the many hundreds of runners, Group Deborah carries a narrative that transcends the race itself.
For this household, operating has turn into a method to remodel grief into momentum — to take one thing devastating and switch it into one thing that strikes ahead.
“As time goes on, I don’t need individuals to neglect her. I don’t need her to simply be one other statistic within the most cancers… checklist. So it’s a pleasant method to honor her, I feel. And my children, our youngsters, will probably be taking part in that as nicely. In order that they’re excited to run additionally,” Paternostro mentioned.
