Hi In 2008, I lost a beloved family member who survived a 2 year battle with aggressive stage 4 breast cancer only to be taken a year later by metastatic breast cancer in the form of multiple inoperable brain tumours. I have participated in the annual awareness event since 2009 - except for the year I had knee replacement surgery. This included the years of COVID lockdown when I participated by decorating our front porch with pink flowers, ribbons and posters, and joining people all over the country from my living room to watch the opening ceremonies and do the warmup stretches. I then did some “laps” around our back yard for approx. 45 minutes which I guesstimated should count for at least 3 kms!

It feels good to join the “sea of people in pink” gathered together each year for the annual CIBC Run (in my case Walk!) for the Cure.

I continue to participate - now in the Simcoe, Ontario event - to honour a growing number of family members and friends who are thankfully - survivors of this awful disease. While they ARE survivors, I know their lives, and those of their families and loved ones, are forever changed by the diagnosis and treatments, as well as the physical and emotional toll this takes on them and everyone in their care circles.

I have never been much of an athlete and the combination of age, arthritis and knee surgery means running certainly isn’t in my wheelhouse anymore; I also don’t have either the energy or the social connections to gather a lot of pledges, So I choose to support by donating what I can from my pension-based income and to continue participating as long as I can as my way of saluting and honouring the ongoing strength shown by the women (and men) who face this disease every day of their lives.

I always love the stories and comments shared on the ’Wall of Hope” which sends thoughts of support and love to everyone.

Katheleen Ellis Simcoe, ON 519-909-8899 (phone/text) or koeksuster@bell.net