I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in October 2021 and went through treatment until February 2022. I was fortunate enough to be diagnosed in a time where a lot of fundraising for cancer research had already been done. This meant I got an aggressive targeted treatment that almost guaranteed a full recovery and I was able to do my 5-day long treatments from home. This would not have been possible without the Canadian Cancer Society and Relay for Life. 

I got involved in relay when I was asked if I would be willing to speak at the event and share my survivor story. I was not very open to the idea at first because I wanted nothing more than to put this experience behind me and never talk about it in public, but I agreed. 

Through sharing my story at the event and on my social media I was flooded with messages and donations from so many people in my life, some that I barely knew, who were inspired and touched by what I had gone through. This overwhelming support from my friends, family and peers gave me the confidence to get further involved with the event on the comittee this year.

My experience with Relay has helped me heal more than anything else I have done. It has helped me to accept what happened to me as a part of my life forever that I can't ignore. I have learned that having cancer is not something to be ashamed of but, something to be celebrated. I understand now that there is great power in sharing our struggles. It brings hope that they can be eliminated in the future and validates the pain of the people who are presently going through the same thing.

I am forever grateful that I got involed with relay for my own personal growth and healing as well as for the opportunity to connect with and help other people like me. So much good has already come from cancer research so, I know that through this fundrasing we can prevent people from having to go through what I went through in the future. I am so excited for what we will do to support the Cancer Society this year!