From Cancer Diagnosis to Paralympian: Erica Scarff’s Inspiring Journey

At just 12 years old, Erica Scarff was a dedicated gymnast, pushing herself in training like any other young athlete with big dreams. But one fateful practice changed her life forever.

“I was at a gymnastics practice, just running, and my femur broke,” Erica recalls. “Obviously, that doesn’t happen too often. That’s when I learned that my leg had broken because I had cancer.”

She was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, the same rare type of bone cancer that Canadian icon Terry Fox had battled. The treatment was aggressive: chemotherapy and a leg amputation.

“I am not proud of having survived cancer because it’s only luck, and so many of my wonderful friends have passed away,” Erica shares. “I am proud, however, of choosing to get back up and live a full life, in spite of this senseless disease.”

Even in the face of adversity, her first thought wasn’t about fear, it was about sport.

“One of my first questions when I found out I had cancer and would need my leg amputated was, ‘Will I be able to do gymnastics again?’”

Though her gymnastics career ended, Erica found a new way to stay involved in sport, trying different Para sports until discovering Para canoe.

“I was getting my prosthetic made when I met my future coach, Mari Ellery. She invited me to try paddling… just for fun, no pressure,” Erica says.

The moment Erica got in the boat, she felt something she hadn’t in a long time.

“Leaving my prosthetic on the dock and just working hard in the boat was so freeing. It gave me the same passion I had for gymnastics,” Erica recalls. “And my mom and dad saw how happy it made too and they would drive me over an hour each way to practice.”

That passion quickly turned into success and within just two years, Erica qualified for the Canadian Paralympic Team for the Rio 2016 Paralympics, competing in the debut of Para canoe at the Games.

“I didn’t even know the Paralympics were within my reach at first. But I loved training, and suddenly I was getting results. It became my goal, and I went all in.”

At just 20 years old, Erica competed valiantly at the Rio Games earning a promising sixth-place finish in the KL3 kayak event. The following year she won a Pan Am title and was fourth at the world championships.

Sport, much like life, is full of ups and downs. Erica faced heartbreak after being hit by a car in 2018 causing multiple injuries that disrupted her preparations for the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Games.

Demonstrating unwavering determination and resilience, Erica overcame the physical, mental, and emotional challenges of the accident to make a remarkable return to competition. At the 2019 World Championships, she fought her way to the B Final, delivering a courageous performance but narrowly missing qualification for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

“It was tough because I had worked so hard, and it didn’t come true. But I knew I had done everything I could with the circumstances I had,” she reflects. “Knowing that the next Games were only three years away instead of four gave me motivation to keep pushing.”

With her sights set on a Paralympic return, Erica made a bold decision by switching from kayak to canoe to adapt to changes in her sport. That transition proved pivotal. At Paris 2024, history was made as the VL3 event was introduced for women at the Paralympic Games.

“My first Paralympics was the first time our sport was included, and my second was the first time my category was included. Both were really special moments.”

Beyond sport, Erica has dedicated herself to supporting children with cancer through a charity started by Sue Strong, a family friend, in her honour called Erica’s Wish. The initiative started with a fundraising run on her 13th birthday and has since expanded into a blanket program for children undergoing cancer treatment across Ontario.

“It started as a fundraiser, but now we provide blankets to kids diagnosed with cancer at SickKids and other oncology centers,” Erica explains. “This September, we’re bringing back our fun runs, this year it will be a ‘Cupcake Run’ that will continue supporting the cause.”

On World Cancer Day, Erica shares an important message for anyone facing a cancer diagnosis, especially young Canadians.

“This morning, I visited a young girl named Wynelle at SickKids who has the same cancer I did. Her mom, Lexie, told me that when you get diagnosed, it feels like your list of opportunities is shrinking. But really, it’s just being refined,” Erica shared. “Life may look different, but there are still so many paths to explore.”

For Erica, Para sport was that path. It gave her a new purpose, a renewed sense of passion, and the chance to compete for Canada on the world stage.

Now, with two Paralympic Games behind her, she’s still pushing forward, training for the 2025 World Championships in Milan, the same city where she competed in her first Worlds 10 years ago.

“I’m taking it year by year,” Erica said. “Right now, I’m excited to keep racing, keep improving, and keep inspiring others.” On World Cancer Day, Erica Scarff’s story is a reminder that resilience, determination, and a love for sport can carry us through even the most difficult moments and that no dream is out of reach.