A Reflection on Challenges

by Diana

The BC Bike Race is by far the most challenging physical feat I have ever attempted. Ten years ago, I faced a very different and way more serious challenge – breast cancer. I used humour and as much physical activity as I could handle to get through surgery, chemo-therapy, radiation and hormonal treatment. Clearly, mine is a success story.  Upon diagnosis, my goal was to get in the best shape I could to handle the treatment ahead. A friend of mine, Marjorie Vendrig, was training for a triathlon. She suggested that I join her, for as much as I could do. So, just about every day, I got out for varying lengths of activity: a run, a swim or a bike ride. Three weeks after finishing chemotherapy, I completed my first, ‘try-a-tri’, a mini- triathlon.

Even better, I found I had very few side-effects from the chemo. My energy was good and I only threw up once the whole time. Digging into the research, I learned that exercise is a proven way to reduce the side-effects of chemo. I’ve been preaching that message to my affected friends ever since.

In addition to limiting the side effects of treatment, physical activity is an important element in cancer prevention. This race may be taking it a bit far (!!), but since I am committed to doing it, I would like to make it far more than simply a personal sports goal. I’d like to combine it with that other passion of mine – cancer prevention. There is so much we can do to prevent cancer, and so little focus on the prevention side – still!

I am raising money for Prevent Cancer Now, a national non-profit focused entirely on cancer prevention, for which I have volunteered for years. My goal is to raise $5000 - that’s fifty cents per metre of climbing. I hate to even think how few pennies that amounts to per hour of training! Not too lofty a goal, I don’t think, for the momentous and valuable task of preventing our loved ones from getting cancer.

Prevent Cancer Now will devote the funds to its ongoing communications and advocacy work, and original research into the damaging effects of 2-chloropyridine, a persistent, toxic chemical that comes when neonicotinoids (the “bee-killing” pesticides) break down in the environment.

I try to remind myself every single day of how fortunate I am. My sister, Dagmar, and a number of my friends were not so fortunate and have passed away. No doubt, you have family and friends that have followed journeys with cancer, hopefully with happy endings, but perhaps not.

So please support my efforts, and support cancer prevention.

• For a tax receipt, please donate via the Hills of Erin Cancer Prevention Foundation, here: https://www.canadahelps.org/dn/8206. Click on the “General Fund” window, and switch to BC Bike Race Cancer Prevention Challenge)
• To donate directly to Prevent Cancer Now’s advocacy work (which is not eligible for a tax receipt), please donate via this secure website: https://2mev.com/prevent-cancer-now/pledge/457/ or send your cheque to Prevent Cancer Now, P.O. Box 23057 Springbank, Woodstock, Ontario  N4T 1R0.

Thanks so much for your generous support!