A Canadian Rollerblader is Skating Across SF to Fight Against Cancer

Photo of Christine Ichim from Linkedin

By Olivia Wynkoop

Accompanied by San Francisco firefighters, Canadian rollerblader Christine Ichim will skate across the city on Friday to raise awareness for the San Francisco Fire Department Cancer Prevention Foundation.

Ichim was the first woman to ever rollerblade across Canada in 1996, in efforts to raise awareness for cancer research.

Starting at 8:30 a.m. on October 15, Ichim will skate from Ocean Beach to Point lobos Avenue, and then across San Francisco through Geary, Presidio, Lombard and Columbus Avenues, along with the Embarcadero. She’ll finish her journey at the San Francisco Department Headquarters at 11:00 a.m.

October 15 also marks the 25th anniversary of Ichim’s 5000-mile journey across Canada.

“Research saves lives,” said Ichim. “My mother lived 20 years on borrowed time because of advances in medical research. One area of research that is underfunded is how to prevent cancer following exposure to smoke from structural and wildland fires. We have the power to turn the tide and change our fate. Cancer is now the number one cause of death of firefighters. We can change that,” said Ichim in a statement.

Once she arrives, the Consult General of Canada and the San Francisco Firefighter Cancer Prevention Foundation will present a donation.

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