Artist Who "Runs With Wolves" Raises Money for Cancer Research

It all began when she heard former Ottawa Mayor Jackie Holzman speak at the MDS Nordion Race Weekend in May, 1998. Mayor Holzman was the honorary race starter that year, and as she spoke, Kaija Mountain, an artist in the Almonte region, felt the lump in her breast and made up her mind to get it checked. It turned out to be malignant, and surgery and treatments later, she resumed her running as a way to cope, and to rebuild her strength.

The “wolves” had also arrived that year. They were wolf-like huskies, two males -Chinook, and Rusty, and a female, Layah who had been abandoned in the woods on the family’s property near Clayton, Ontario. They were fearful of any humans, but had imprinted on Kaija’s running companion, Daisy, a hound who had wandered onto the farm injured after deer hunting season three years earlier. The huskies loved to run, and have become a familiar astonishing sight in the Clayton area as the team – Kaija, the three original huskies, plus Daisy, and Tussie, a beagle cross, and a neighbour’s husky Neeka, log some 60 kilometres per week in training, rain, sun, sleet or snow. “The dogs motivate me, and I in turn give them something they love – the joy of running in a beautiful country setting”.

In 2001 Kaija ran in 15 National Capital Division races, finishing 2^rd overall in her age category in the NCD Race Series. “I run as a way to beat back my own illness, and in memory of my younger sister Kateriina who succumbed to this horrible disease in May 2001”.    

 Kaija, this year defeated her previous year’s record in the Nordion 10km race. This year she also ran The Scotia Half Marathon (21km) the next morning in tribute to her younger sister, the time for it was 1 hour 47 minutes.  She continues  to run  with her clan.  The dogs inspire her to live, and have given her strength.  Through a strong life force and energy  she continues to paint, run, and the love of nature is reflected in her beautiful paintings. Her subject matter depicts horses, as well as landscapes.  Come and visit Kaija’s home to view her masterpieces.