In February of this year, a day after my 40th birthday I was diagnosed with Cancer. Treatment began very quickly after that, and so did an idea. The idea: to give something back to the Canadian Cancer Society and raise cancer awareness in young people. You see I had no family history, led a pretty healthy lifestyle, and my symptoms were not atypical to the type of  the type of Cancer I have.

After some research, Kayak for a Cure™ seemed the perfect fit. Being avid kayakers in a community filled with paddlers, as well as joining a group of people as passionate about the cause as I was, this was the definitely right avenue

After much support from Mark Starkey in Vancouver and the Kayak for a Cure™ organization, Kayak for a Cure™ Comox Valley was born. This is when the real work began. First off…to get the word out, start to build a volunteer group as dedicated and passionate to the cause as I was. Second….sponsorship.
I am proud to say we are currently sponsored by 30 different businesses from Edmonton to Tofino, Victoria to Smithers!

When I first logged into the admin portion of The Canadian Cancer Society’s Kayak for a Cure™ donor webpage to set up our donation goals back in march, I initially made $10,000.00 our fundraising goal. At that time I was thinking if we raised $5000.00 we had achieved something great. That quickly changed to $15 000.00  and to date, with  less than a week to go until our event we have raised over $18 000.00!!!

As proud as we are of our volunteers and sponsors, we certainly did have our trials and errors. I would suggest a raffle or silent auction idea. 50/50 ticket sales at some key events here in the valley were a huge success as well. I would also suggest a bake sale. Lesley, my amazing lady put one on. I have to admit I was skeptical. It was all strictly by donation and raised almost $1000.00!!!

There were some things that didn’t work out so well for us. Trying to find a date far enough away from all the other fundraisers in the valley was tricky. It seemed throughout the summer there was a walk or run or ride for Cancer every weekend. We ended picking September as most people would be back from vacation, and it was also far enough away from most other fundraisers here. The problem that did arise was that we ended up at the end of a long line of fundraisers, so a lot of sponsors were tapped out. We just had to work a little harder for the sponsors we have.

As a whole I would have to say this has been one of the most inspiring things I have ever done. We recently received a donation from a friend and colleague who at her own wedding, once the glasses started clinking at her reception, stood up, told my story and advised her guests that any kissing by the bride and groom would now only be by donation to Kayak for a Cure™!! Thanks, Dayna and Roland!

It just cements the point that we have all been touched in some way or another by this disease. One can choose to sit back and let run it’s course. Or one can choose to get up a finish the fight Cancer has started.

On a personal level, I had a career, I have 5 children, ranging in age from 17 months to 12 years old. My diagnosis was devastating in my household. At times, through radiation therapy, endless needles, blood tests, xrays, consults, surgeries, and the hell they call chemotherapy, it felt at times as if the wheels were falling off the cart. Kayak For a Cure gave me a set of goals, and on some days a reason to get out of bed. Something that was stripped of me, when my life was turned upside down, was returned through the organization

Kayak for a Cure™ helped to create a sense of community that in this day and age I thought did not exist. From the minimum wage worker donating a days wage, to the daily phone conversations of “how can I help?” or “what can I do?” Whether volunteering as a beach hand, paddling, donating, or simply supporting the organization in any way has provided people with an avenue to help find a cure.

Hope Floats.