Curtis Medwid tells us how he was affected by breast cancer when his daughter was diagnosed and how he’s participating in the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure.
Curtis' wife Roseann and daughter Laura
I am the fortunate one in the family that has not been diagnosed with cancer. My wife Roseann was diagnosed with sarcoma in the right thigh in May of 2009. After undergoing 2 surgeries she is well on the way to recovery. The doctors, nurses and everyone else involved with her treatment and care have been tremendous. We thought we were over this hurdle when my 22 year old daughter Laura felt a lump in her right breast. Having seen what her mother has just gone through she had the lump checked out. To make a long story short, is was indeed breast cancer. She has had a mastectomy her right breast and lymph nodes were removed. She is currently undergoing chemotherapy and is doing as well as can be expected.
I guess what I am trying to say is that these two women have been terrific in dealing with their diseases. The care and empathy shown towards them from all the care givers, volunteers, etc. has been fantastic. They are participating in the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure and I am helping them in any way I can to raise funds.
I want to thank all the people involved in this cause I know without races and events like this we would not be where we are in cancer treatment today.
Once again from a father and husband who feels kind of overwhemed and helpless at times “ THANK YOU.”
- Curtis
Join Curtis and his family at the Run on October 3. Let’s create a future without breast cancer.
Karla Barron is a Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure volunteer. Today we ask her about her volunteer experience at the Run.
When did you first start volunteering with the Foundation and what road led you here?
I started volunteering as a Site Coordinator in April of 2008. My job, at the time, required me to work with hundreds of student volunteers. I had never been a volunteer in the past and these guys inspired me to look for a volunteering opportunity and make a small difference in the world so I looked online and found this position. It was the perfect volunteering opportunity because I love working with event logistics and I was able to use my skills for the run.
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When Joanne Pinch couldn’t finish the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure after just having surgery, her friends carried her across the finish line. Her spirit and love of life carries and inspires everyone around her. Her friend Joan tells us their story.
My dear friend, Joanne Pinch, is my hero, my mentor and my cancer sister. Diagnosed just 4 years ago, while in her mid-thirties, Jo (a runner and fitness enthusiast), was a poster-child for the kind of strength and determination that describes so many of those on this breast cancer journey. Her mother, also a breast cancer survivor, helped Jo in her fight. When I was diagnosed 2 years ago, I turned to Joanne for advice and help. Although we barely knew each other at the time, she had always seemed so strong and positive in her fight against the disease. She didn’t shy away from sharing her beautiful baldness, or the little tattoos from radiation. It was like she was saying, “Look at me, cancer. I rock. Besides, who doesn’t dig bald chicks with scars and tattoos?”.
Her strength seemed limitless, and she was there for me at every turn (and twist), from surgeries through all my different treatments. She gave me solid advice that carried me through chemo (“Make sure you drink tons of water the day before treatment, keep drinking all through treatment, and try to drink lots after treatment. It works to control the nausea.”). I remember her telling me how she promised herself that as soon as she could stand to look at her running shoes waiting on the floor of her bedroom, she’d drag herself out of bed after chemotherapy and at least go for a little walk or hop on the treadmill for 20 minutes. She told me of her ups and downs, all while sharing the importance of being able to keep a sense of humour about the experience (like putting her prosthetic boob in a little zip up box by her bed every night.). I planned to follow those words of wisdom, and vowed to remember to look for every blessing and laugh as much as possible. She taught me early on that cancer may redefine your life, but we will not be defined by this disease.
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The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure participants have come up with some amazing, creative events over the years…but we can honestly say, this is the first time we’ve see Car Mustaches for the Cure! Kelly tells us who she’s running for and how she got this unique fundraising idea.
My mom recently completed two years of chemotherapy. She was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of breast cancer that required her to undergo a double mastectomy, from which she is still healing. I am so incredibly grateful that she is now cancer-free and doing well.
Although my mom is a cancer survivor, sadly, we know all too well how breast cancer can take your loved ones away from you. Breast cancer is very much a part of my life and the lives of my family. My mom survived, but my grandmother, and great grandmother did not. When my own mother was only 20 years old, she lost her mom – at the age of 56 to breast cancer. My great grandmother also lost her battle against breast cancer when she was 80.
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Our new regular blogger Nina from the Elmwood Eagles Team updates us on how the Eagles are fundraising for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure.
The Elmwood Eagles are headed back to school and I’m getting ready to rev up the team! As you can see from the photo our team is hard at work preparing to launch our fundraising efforts. Over the summer I enlisted the help of my friend and fellow Prefect, Taylor, to put together a display board for our school’s New Family Welcome event. One of our goals this year is to get more members of our school community to join our team, so we thought this would be a perfect opportunity to reach out to our newest families and get them involved and full of school spirit!
This year, we’re also going to track the team’s fundraising successes with a progress themometer that will be located where everyone can check up daily on how we’re doing. A huge Elmwood Eagles thank you goes to Terry and Catherine McLaughlin of Terlin Construction for their donation of our progress thermometer.
How is your team doing with your fundraising? Check back often for more ideas from our team. Go Eagles!
- Nina
Join Nina and the Elmwood Eagles on October, 3 2010. Let’s create a future without breast cancer.
