The journey’s final leg could certainly be considered symbolic, given that out of the darkest period of her life Nicole Chuchmach has shed so much light on a disease that’s often not talked about.

Spending the last eight weeks running from her hometown to the Big Apple as a tribute to mom Sophie — who lost her battle to colorectal cancer two years ago — the 30-year-old Miltonian and friends/fellow runners Jill Harper and Natalie Atkinson enjoyed a hero’s welcome upon completion of their 780-km awareness campaign.

Even without a meeting with CBS News anchor and fellow colon cancer awareness advocate Katie Couric — an original hope for the journey, but which couldn’t be arranged — Friday afternoon’s finale left the Sophie’s Run centre-piece humbled and overwhelmed.

“I had dreamed about the end of the run from the very first day I decided I wanted to run to New York City. This was beyond every dream and vision I had,” said Nicole, who was joined by father Terry Chuchmach and uncle Mike Boyko on the cross-border journey.

“The run through the tunnel, which they hardly ever close, unless you’re the President, was the most emotional part for me. I felt my mom with me the entire way, but on the last day I could hear and feel her more closely. I envisioned her smiling down on me. As we made our way to the end of the tunnel, I was just in awe and felt like I was in a dream.”

About 200 people — nearly half from Milton — greeted the Sophie’s Run team at the consulate, providing a spirited wrap-up to a whirlwind campaign that garnered plenty of media attention and support this fall. Among those making the trip down to show their support were Milton Fire Chief Brian Ellsworth and three members of Harper’s Station 3.

“To see them here gave me goose bumps. They’re my second family,” said Harper, who lost her own mother to breast cancer at about the same age that Nicole did and persevered through some calf problems along the way. “The finale was euphoric for us. We’re on an emotional high right now.”

In an effort to expand her message about the importance of early detection in the fight against colorectal cancer, Nicole chronicled her two-month “life-changing” journey via daily blogs at www.sophiesrun.ca .

This quickly became more than just a regular update of the physical rigours and memorable encounters of the run, with Nicole often letting the emotional floodgates she’d held back for so long burst wide open.

“When I first started to write the blogs I had no idea that I would share my personal thoughts about my mom’s death. I took up running to deal with my grief. For so long I had kept a lot of things inside about how I felt. Writing about it has helped me to deal with a deep pain, and has started the healing process.”

Looking back on the two-month campaign this past weekend, Terry said being part of such an endeavour with his daughter is something he couldn’t put into words.

“Never once did she let it (attention and fanfare) go to her head. She kept her smile and her vision the whole way through.”

Of course the driving force behind Sophie’s Run — which has so far raised $160,000 for the Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada — had plenty to keep her focused.

“The most rewarding part of the run has been the lives we have touched and the people we have met. This run has taught me that we’re all battling the same fight against cancer. After every step of Sophie’s Run was completed I was proud to say that we had saved lives and given many people hope when darkness may have only been in sight,” said Nicole, whose efforts were recently recognized by Halton MPP Ted Chudleigh at Queen’s Park. “This trip has definitely reaffirmed my faith in many people.”

A homecoming for the Sophie’s Run team will be held this Saturday at Milton Mall. Mayor Gord Krantz and local police and firefighters are among those expected to be part of the 11 a. m. reception.

Steve LeBlanc can be reached at sleblanc@miltoncanadianchampion.com .