Allison Berry: A Decade of Moving for Workout to Conquer Cancer

“Oh, heck no. I could never do it every day.”

This was Allison Berry’s immediate reaction when she first heard about Workout to Conquer Cancer on the radio 10 years ago.

A month-long challenge requiring daily movement sounded overwhelming. But as she kept listening, something clicked.

At the time, Allison was already moving most days with her dog, Benny. “I realized that my dog and I went running almost every day. So, the only days I’d have to make up exercise would be days that I didn’t run with him,” she says.

That realization turned a firm “heck no” into a “yes” — one that would last a decade.

This year, Workout to Conquer Cancer celebrates 10 years of moving together in support of life-saving cancer research and care in B.C. And for Allison, it also marks 10 consecutive years of showing up — in her own way, at her own pace.

A Deeply Personal Reason to Keep Moving

Like many participants, Allison’s commitment to the event is rooted in personal experience.

Her father passed away from esophageal cancer, and her mother and sister are both breast cancer survivors. Her dog Benny, who first inspired her to register, also faced cancer. Today, cancer continues to touch Allison’s family, as her brother is now undergoing treatment.

Those experiences, combined with stories shared by her donors, continue to motivate her. “A lot of my donors will tell me when cancer has affected them as well. It really feels like a community,” she shares.

That sense of connection and shared purpose is what keeps Allison coming back, year after year. “It’s knowing my donors have faith in me. I feel like I owe it to them to get up and do some exercise.”

No Matter Your Pace or Style, Every Move Matters

Allison began this journey 10 years ago at 51 years old and, like the challenge itself, her workouts have evolved over time.

In the early years, she felt pressure to do more. She says, “I felt like walking the dog wasn’t enough. I thought maybe I should do exercise at home too, so there were days when I did two forms of exercise. Or sometimes even three.”

Over time, Allison realized that movement doesn’t have to be intense to matter. After losing her dog, running became emotionally difficult. A new dog, Halle, meant slower, more relaxed walks. And during the pandemic, her living room became her workout space. “I played Wii tennis in my living room. I was getting five to six thousand steps just doing 45 minutes.”

From walking and running, to at-home weights, dance-inspired routines, short workout apps and Wii tennis, Allison has found ways to keep moving through every season of life.

Ten Years in and Still Moving Forward

Reaching the 10-year milestone has given Allison a moment to reflect.

“It’s pretty overwhelming. Somewhere in the middle, I lost track of how many years I had done. Then all of a sudden, the 10-year comes.”

Looking back, she says “I’m proud of myself.” Not because every workout was perfect, but because she kept showing up. This year, she’s once again leading a team, Berry Entertaining, as she takes part in Workout to Conquer Cancer for her tenth consecutive year.

For anyone considering participating for the first time, Allison understands why the challenge can feel intimidating.

“I think the thing that scares people is that they have to do serious workouts,” she says. “But it doesn’t have to be strenuous. It’s very easy to just go for a walk.”

Her advice is simple, and it’s the message she’s lived by for a decade: “Just know that any amount of activity is worth it.”