From the left: Scott Barnes (father), Lesley Barnes (mother) and Josh Barnes (brother) | Mik Horvath/MBC
Last year the Barnes family hosted ‘Move for Mik,’ an active fundraiser to help Mikaela Barnes and her husband, Stephen, cover cancer treatment costs.
Mikaela was diagnosed with rectal cancer in 2021 and died on March 7, 2026.
Her family said one of her final wishes was to ensure this event continues to keep the community active.
Tomorrow, May 9, the Barnes family is hosting the second-ever Move for Mik and this year is focused on fundraising and awareness.
Scott Barnes, Mikaela’s father, said proceeds from the campaign are being donated to Colorectal Cancer Canada.
Mikaela was very active and was a constant force of wanting everyone around her to be healthy, happy and active.
The Barnes family overall like to keep moving; Scott reminisced on a bike tour that took him and his daughter from Vancouver, B.C., to Whistler.
Mikaela moved to B.C. with her husband, Stephen, but no one fully leaves the Valley.
Her legacy will live on in Move for Mik; tomorrow’s event will see a walk/run starting at the myFM Centre at 10 a.m.
With the friends and connections Mikaela is well-known in large cities like Halifax and London, but her mother Lesley said the biggest impact is always felt in small communities, which is why Move for Mik is hosted in Mikaela’s hometown.
A new challenge added this year are hill repeats, and a challenge it is.
Hill repeats is a workout routine which must be carried out uphill and can include sprints, lunges or whatever gets the burn going.
Challengers must complete 18 rounds of hill repeats; it’s a number which is significant for the Barnes family.
As an avid cyclist there is a cycling event new for this year too, which will be organized in the fall.
Move for Mik has one simple goal, and that’s to keep the community moving, which Mikaela vowed to her whole life.
A celebration of life for Mikaela will take place at the myFM Centre at noon, following the morning’s run.
(Written by Mik Horvath)
