Dear Editor
Companions on my journey, please read the letter following from my daughter Solange.
She was helped organize a team, which includes her sister Chantel Lavoie to make a difference in the battle to defeat brain cancer. They, like their dad who taught them throughout their lives, are trying to light a candle rather than curse the darkness, to run the race, to endure their all to make the world a better place. I am proud of them and will cheer them on with the hope and dream some other family will not suffer our loss or at least more time will be given to brain tumor victims.
I know we cherished every moment gifted to us by the ongoing research. God bless the people striving to find a cure, all who will be running and for the support any of you can give either of the girls.
Their team is called "no limits."
Seize the day.
Judy Lavoie
North Battleford
On June 4, , I will be running in the Banff Jasper Relay in a fundraising effort for the Brain Tumor Foundation of Canada.
Oct. 24, 2004, my dad was rushed to the hospital while visiting my sister and her family in Toronto. What was thought to have been a stroke turned out to be a bleed in the brain, caused by a malignant brain tumor.
Thanks to amazing surgeons in Toronto, my dad recovered and came back home to Saskatchewan. Thanks also to the amazing doctors and nurses at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in Calgary, my dad received top of the line treatment and was even included in a research study, which, at one point, saw the tumor completely disappear.
When my dad first got sick, my daughter Kate was only one year old. Because my dad received such timely and professional care, he was able to see my daughter's fifth birthday. He was able to spend time with all five of his grandchildren, and they were able to get to know him.
He was able to take a helicopter ride through the Rocky Mountains, something he had always wanted to do. He was able to celebrate his 65th birthday with friends and family. And, he was able to celebrate his 40th anniversary with his wife and best friend, my mom.
My dad, Louis Lavoie, lost his battle with cancer Jan. 6, 2009, over four years after having first been diagnosed. He had four years of life, which I contribute to research, as well as advancements in treatments and surgical techniques, funded by the Brain Tumor Foundation of Canada.
I am running in the Banff Jasper Relay because this is one small way I can honour my father and the struggle he faced. I am running because I believe every dollar that goes toward brain tumor research and education will help those facing this disease. I am running because there are an estimated 55,000 Canadians currently living with a brain tumor and 10,000 more that will be diagnosed this year.
Many of us on the Relay team have friends or family whose lives have been affected by this disease and we know their challenge is much greater than anything we will ever have to face. I hope you will consider supporting my fundraising efforts for the Brain Tumor Foundation of Canada and me. Any contribution would be greatly appreciated. A secure online donation can be made by clicking on the link: http://mv.c2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?SID=2883543&Lang=en-CA, for more information on the 2011 Banff Jasper Relay, please visit http://www.bjr.ca or www.braintumour.ca.
Chantel is running as well and the link to sponsor her is http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?registrationID=1064288&langPref=en-ca.
Thank you for your support in helping to imagine a cure for brain tumors!
Solange Nicholson
