Approximately one year ago, right after Yom Kippur came to an end, our family gathered at our parents' house and my big sister, Alina, shared that she had been diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. This is the kind of diagnosis people fear. This is also the kind of diagnosis very few expect to receive, especially in their 30s when they should be "living their best lives." I remember sitting there and my only thought was: is this real life? It can't be.

The months that followed were incredibly challenging. My sister, a 37-year-old mom of 3, bravely chose to pursue aggressive treatment which included chemotherapy, multiple surgeries, various tests, endless procedures, and the list goes on. While we tried to stay positive, I often wondered if life would remain this dark forever. But over time, I saw the light and that light, funny enough, was my sister.

A cancer journey is NEVER easy and to be honest, regardless of prognosis, I don't think it ever really comes to an end for the people who are experiencing it and their families. But when I say that Alina surpassed all of my expectations over the last 12 months, that is an understatement.

We are in awe of Alina's strength. She chose to complete her Masters (in between chemo sessions and surgeries), continue to support her 3 children and husband as much as possible and FIGHT. Her journey isn't over yet but I have learned so much from her. In the face of the scariest diagnosis there is, she chose to stay optimistic, stubborn (always doing way more than she should because...that's Alina) and incredibly powerful. We witnessed her experience horrible symptoms which often prevented her from getting out of bed or even speaking but somehow, she continued to smile through it all. Some days and weeks were (and continue to be) particularly challenging but Alina is a superstar and we know that she is going to continue to thrive. 

TO ALINA:

We love you. We are beyond proud of you. Thank you for continuing to demonstrate how important one's attitude is in the face of adversity. You are stronger than you know and remember, we are always cheering for you! 

TO MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY:

Our family (and some friends) will be participating and fundraising for this year’s Canadian Cancer Society CIBC Run for the Cure on behalf of Alina and our late grandmother, Babushka Zhanna (another insanely strong human who beat breast cancer...twice!)

Please consider supporting our team. With your help, I can reach my fundraising goal and make a life-changing difference for so many people. Every dollar I raise will fund groundbreaking breast cancer research and support programs and services for those impacted by this disease. 

Please donate today. I believe better treatment options and survival outcomes are possible. Together, we can give Canadians impacted by breast cancer a reason to have hope. And we can help change the future for all. 

Thank you! I appreciate your generous support.