After two years of not being able to do what he loves most, Bill Sylvia got back on his feet and ran in the 5K that bears his name on Saturday.

The first Bill Sylvia 5K started and ended at St. Anthony’s Chapel on Gault Road in West Wareham.

“[Not running] hurt me, as an athlete,” Sylvia said. “I’ve done it for so many years now...To sit there and watch other people run, it actually got me irritated.”

During his two-year battle with cancer, Sylvia was unable to run and barely able to move. Now, he is “completely cancer free,” and back at the races.

Sylvia has been a fixture at road races in the Greater New Bedford area through the years. For more than 50 years, Sylvia said he’s “run in just about every major race and marathon in the area.”

“I’ve done Boston for 15 years, I did Falmouth for 30 years, Acushnet Road Race...You name it, I’ve done them all,” he said.

Particiapant PJ Costa, who is a fixture of area races, said he missed seeing Sylvia run the past two years. The 5K was a way to thank him for his many years of dedication to the sport and also help two church outlets continue their missions.

All of the proceeds from the event benefitted The Anchor, the official publication of the Fall River Diocese, and Life With Christ Radio, a proposed Catholic radio station on Cape Cod.

Race organizer Kevin Ward said Life With Christ Radio would be the first Catholic radio station in the Upper Cape area and will broadcast in multiple languages, including Portuguese and Spanish.

“It won’t be an English station, it can’t be,” he said, explaining the area’s diversity.

More than 30 people ran on Saturday. Each registered with a $20 fee and received a free commemorative T-shirt.