Every day, 70 Canadians will hear the words "you have breast cancer." While these Canadians are living longer, healthier lives after a breast cancer diagnosis, there is still so much work to be done.

By participating in this year's Canadian Cancer Society CIBC Run for the Cure, I'm helping make a meaningful difference in the lives of Canadians affected by breast cancer. I'm running in honour of the incredible people in my life, and I need your support!

I'd like to take a moment to tell you a little about the people in my life that inspire me to participate. Our family has been affected many times throughout the years by cancer, but one thing remained true for every individual - an indomitable spirit and love of family.
My aunt came to stay with us when I was 4, and unbeknownst to me at the time was undergoing treatment for late-stage ovarian cancer. What I remember most about her was her infectious laughter and constant smile. While she left us fairly shortly afterwards, the memory of her energy and spirit will always remain.
Several years later, just after my grandfather passed from lung cancer, my father was diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer. He was told that he would not leave the hospital. Anyone who ever knew my father would know that in his typical Irish fashion, you didn't just tell him what he was going to do ;) . He indeed left the hospital and lived his life to the fullest as a medical professional, husband, father and community member for another 3 years. I did not realize it then, but he taught me what it meant to fight for the life and family you believe in.
The next few years also saw the loss of my grandmother, also to lung cancer, and my incredible aunt Jane. A tiny melanoma on her toe quickly spread throughout her system despite surgical intervention. Both of these women were major presences in my childhood - strong, bold, fearless women, who I thank everyday for teaching me to reach for the stars and not settle for second best.
However, things didn't stop there. In 1987, my mother had a long-standing mass in her breast fully investigated - revealing a large mammary tumour. Rounds of chemotherapy, surgery and radiation, which took its toll on her, also seemed to take its toll on the tumour, and in 1992 Mum was ready to be declared cancer-free. When they discovered the metastasis. It had spread to her abdominal lymph nodes and her brain. Mum did not give up, although many days I'm sure she wished she could. Like my father, she would undergo anything to be with her family, to see her grandchildren grow and her children happy. Mum lost her battle on Dec. 18, 1993, but left a legacy of strength, love and laughter behind her.

While my own family has had some reprieve from this disease, we have still felt its impact in recent years. I watch my friends and their families continue to suffer the devastating effects that cancer has, both on the individual and on the people that love them. My work has led me from a career in veterinary medicine to a field where I hope to branch out into working with women who have or have had cancer who are still hoping to conceive and have children themselves. I see what cancer does to everyone. I have lived it, I love those who have been similarly affected, and my heart goes out to every single individual whose life has been touched by cancer.

Please contribute what you can to help me achieve my fundraising goal. Every dollar makes a difference. Your donation will fund the best breast cancer research and the largest support system in the country for people affected by cancer.

Did you know that just $100 could fund two hours of life-saving research in a world class laboratory? Your contribution could lead to the next breakthrough!

Together, we can change the future of breast cancer.

Thanks in advance for your support!