Andrea remembers the moment vividly – the mammogram room, the nurse with a bright blue streak in her hair and the words that left her breathless: “You have cancer.” She was 31 years old, newly married, already dealing with infertility and now suddenly facing stage 3 breast cancer.
Her diagnosis deeply affected her family during an already hard time in her life.
Later that summer, Andrea had a mastectomy. As she healed, she underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF) to preserve embryos before starting an accelerated chemotherapy schedule in the fall. Her hair fell out, bone pain made using the stairs hard, brain fog and nausea could last for days – but it was her support system that truly kept Andrea going.
Care came from many places. Her mom, who had had her own breast cancer experience, moved in while her husband Blair kept working. Andrea’s dad, mother-in-law and brother pitched in, as well. Friends provided meals during treatments, too.
The support Andrea received inspired her to help others. So as soon as she was able, she signed up for the Canadian Cancer Society Relay For Life.
Turning support into action at Relay For Life
When the hardest part of her cancer treatment ended in early 2018, Andrea and Blair wanted to move on and do something to give back. That was when they signed up for Relay For Life.
Andrea had years of experience fundraising during both of her parents’ cancer diagnoses but now with her own, it meant so much more.
Andrea and her husband quickly turned a negative experience into a positive one. Team “Andrea’s Adventurers” was born and in that very first year, they raised over $5,000 for Relay For Life.
Relay For Life is the Canadian Cancer Society’s (CCS) longstanding, community-powered event that funds cancer research and a national support system so fewer people face cancer alone. For Andrea, walking the track at Relay with her family and friends was her way of saying that cancer would not have the last word, and she was there in support of everyone going through their own cancer experience.
After years of taking part in Relay, COVID happened and Andrea decided to use it as an opportunity to make an even larger impact.
Turning a passion into online fundraising
In 2022, her first year using Tiltify, Andrea and her group of over 40 players on the livestream, raised over $5,500. Over the next 3 years, “Andrea’s Adventurers” raised over $19,000 to help save and improve the lives of people affected by cancer, like her own family.
Everyone can use Tiltify to help save lives either by playing games with your friends or livestreaming an event or personal challenge. Tiltify makes supporting CCS and helping people affected by cancer possible. Learn how to start your own livestream fundraiser.
Finding support after a second diagnosis
After experiencing infertility before her cancer diagnosis and learning she couldn’t carry a pregnancy during treatment, Andrea and Blair decided to find a surrogate. After lots of uncertainty, they welcomed their son Miles in the summer of 2023.
But soon after, in December, Andrea received a second diagnosis. Her cancer had spread to her lung, liver and bones. She started chemotherapy immediately and thankfully had a lot of support to help her take care of her son while going through treatment.
After Andrea’s second diagnosis she found something that helped with the loneliness: CancerConnection.
CancerConnection is CCS’s free, moderated online community where people with cancer and their caregivers can ask questions, share experiences and learn from others across Canada.
Talking with people who understood what her family was going through helped Andrea get through each day.
Together, we can help people facing cancer
By supporting the Canadian Cancer Society, you are funding a future without cancer and supporting people affected by cancer.
We believe no one should face cancer alone. Whether it is gathering with your friends online or in person to change the future of cancer or connecting with people going through a similar experience. It takes a society to take on cancer.
Donations are really helping folks like me live more normal lives and for longer.
Help create a future without cancer
With support from readers like you, we can continue to make a meaningful impact for people affected by cancer.
We are determined to increase survival, stop cancer before it starts, and improve lives. But we can’t do it without you.
If everyone reading this gave just $5, we could achieve our goal this month to fund the most promising research, compassionate support and transformative advocacy. Please give today because every contribution counts. Thank you.