Volunteering at the wig bank after a cancer diagnosis: Ruby Gulliver’s story

Ruby Gulliver was only 20 years old and completing her Bachelor of Commerce in Halifax when she began feeling strange symptoms. They included lumps in her neck, itchy legs and chest pain. After seeing her doctor and getting a biopsy done, she received devastating news – she had Hodgkin lymphoma.  

 Her family and friends were shocked because she was so young and there was no family history of this type of cancer. The week she found out, she had a special day planned with her family for the next weekend. Even though the news of the diagnosis was unexpected, she wanted to make sure they still had this time together. 

I immediately called both my parents. I had planned to go to a spa that weekend with my mom, aunt and two cousins who I’m very close to. My mom said, ‘we can just cancel it, don’t worry about it.’ I said no, I wanted to go. I knew it would be one of the last times that I would get to feel normal for the next little while.

 She delayed her studies to move back home with her family in Moncton, New Brunswick. She began chemotherapy in March 2023, which continued for 6 months. Her family supported her the entire time. 

Ruby remembers that the side effects of the medication following her chemotherapy were very hard on her body. They included early menopause, brain fog, as well as muscle and bone pain from injections. Other side effects also affected her self-esteem. 

Being a young woman, there were a lot of confidence issues that I faced, especially with losing my hair. That’s a really hard side effect. I lost my eyebrows and eyelashes too. That was something I struggled with. And gaining weight, especially in my face; I didn’t look like myself at all. Just looking in the mirror and not recognizing myself anymore was very scary. 

By November, she was cancer-free but shortly after, she knew she wanted to help others facing similar challenges. 

 “I want to be a voice. To share my story so that everyone knows they can talk to me because I’ve been there. I was handed a tough situation, and now that I am on the other side of it, I want to use my experience for something good. Let’s use it. Let’s do something with it.” 

Around the holiday season in 2024, Ruby remembers seeing blue and yellow lights at the Canadian Cancer Society lodge in Halifax – just up the street from where she lived. She had heard about the Canadian Cancer Society from commercials and online resources and decided to look at the volunteer opportunities that were available. 

“I knew I needed to help in some way, in any way, so I got online and looked at the volunteer positions. Luckily, they were looking for someone in the wig bank, so I applied, had an interview and started volunteering. 

Although she didn’t use the CSS Wig Bank during her cancer treatments, she still wore a wig. Volunteering showed her how affordable the service is. It also showed her the positive effect she could have others during their own cancer experiences. 

The first couple months that I was volunteering there, I was still wearing my wig, so some people would say things like ‘I really love what you’ve done your hair today,’ or ‘I like the colour of your hair,’ and I would get to show them that I was actually wearing a wig. It was such a cool connection to make, and I think it helps people see themselves at the end, after all the treatments. That’s what I want to be for people. A positive story and a success story.

Ruby hopes others consider volunteering with the Canadian Cancer Society, so they can also see the impact volunteering can make. 

“To just have peace for a moment, live normally and escape it. I think it's really, really fulfilling to give your time to people who can really use it.”