Strength of the Human Spirit

Every year my mother and I would participate in the CIBC Run for the Cure, along with many of our friends and family. October 2004, was the first year I faced the 5 km walk without my mother by my side. Her health had begun to deteriorate slowly for the first time since her breast cancer diagnosis in March of 1998. With great spirit and determination I decided to make an extra effort to collect pledges that year. I had emailed my two favourite DJ's at our local popular radio station, and requested that they kindly give up one of their morning cash giveways to sponsor me. To my surprise, two days later, I received a phone call on my cell, on my drive into work. The morning show producer from the radio station asked me to hold the line and next thing I knew, I was "live" on the air with my two beloved DJ's. They had told me that my email was written with such passion and they could not refuse my request and I was presented with $500 towards my cause. I was left speechless and had to pull to the side of the road to dry my eyes and say a little prayer.

This was truly one of the most important donations I have collected in the past 11 years in which I have actively participated in Breast Cancer fundraising. I was so ecstatic that my email had made a difference. That donation gave me a great sense of hope and I dedicated it to honour all the courageous women and men (yes they can also get breast cancer) who have fought and persevered and also to those who were less fortunate, like my mother.

My mother passed away a few months later in February 2005. Since then, I have taken my fundraising to the next level, and I walk 60km every September in the Weekend to End Breast Cancer. This is a journey thru the streets of Toronto. This is where you meet real life heroes. When I walk this 60km route, I am amazed at the enthusiasm and unbreakable spirit present. Every year I meet so many very incredible and courageous women and men throughout the walk. The depth of the human spirit is evident all around me. My most defining moments are when I am walking alongside women who are in the midst of their treatment and fighting for their life to find a cure. The perseverance of these individuals makes you forget your own temporary pain and realize that it is just a small sample of the pain and fear that these women live with daily. These are the true heroes.

I walk for all those who are fighting to stay alive and to all those who pray their cancer never returns. I continue to carry the torch for those who are no longer with us, but never forgotten. But most importantly, I fight for a future without breast cancer.