Dianne thought it was just the flu. As she was sick on and off for a month, she visited her nurse practitioner. That visit led her to see a gastroenterologist and after having a colonoscopy, Dianne knew something was not right.
Not long after the procedure, Dianne heard the news that they found a cancerous tumour.
Diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer just two months after turning 40 years old, Dianne was told that she needed surgery. Following her bowel resection, Dianne began 6 months of chemotherapy.
After treatment, Dianne wanted to give back. Having her own cancer experience and knowing that thousands of people across Canada are feeling the same way as her and her family, inspired her to take action. That is where the Canadian Cancer Society Relay For Life came into her life.
Giving back at Relay For Life
Dianne first heard of Relay For Life through her workplace as some coworkers were organizing their own fundraising and talking about their local event. Always wanting to participate in it, Dianne decided to show her support for the cause and take her efforts a step further and volunteer.
“I wanted to give back and help the organization that is going to help other people affected by cancer, like it did for me, with all of its services,” says Dianne. “I want other people that are going through the same journey I went through to be able to call themselves a survivor like me.”
“It was kind of overwhelming the first year, but it was also really great,” says Dianne on her volunteering experience for Relay. “It was a nice feeling when you saw that everybody enjoyed it.”
After experiencing Relay for the first time and volunteering, Dianne decided to make it a family affair. Dianne’s mom was stitching together signed survivor quilt squares to decorate the survivor tent, her husband was getting a trailer full of sand for the luminaries and her kids were helping put the decorations together at home. Dianne’s entire family were doing what they could to support her and people affected by cancer all across Canada.
How Relay has changed Dianne’s life
After her first Relay, Dianne saw firsthand the impact the event had on her community and knew she wanted to return. She continued volunteering in the years that followed, serving as Luminary and Survivor Chair in her second year and Participant Engagement and Survivor Chair in her third. Shortly after, Dianne was invited to be a Participant of Hope and share her story during Relay For Life.
“I’ve heard other people speak and there are so many people with cancer stories out there,” says Dianne. “To be chosen to speak and help out by telling my story, I was honoured.”
Today, Dianne is cancer-free but she knows now more than ever before that people affected by cancer need support.
“We could all sit in our busy lives and write a cheque, but Relay For Life allows you to get involved and see the difference you’re making in your community.”
For Dianne, Relay For Life is not only meaningful because it honours survivors, but it’s also another way to let people know about the cancer cause and the national support services that are available through CCS.
“A big part of Relay For Life is getting parts of the community that don’t always get to see the event or maybe don’t know enough about it,” Dianne notes. “We went into one of the nursing homes and we did a small luminary ceremony, which was fantastic. It was nice to see the people and they actually felt they were a part of it. Relay has that opportunity to reach out to those groups and get into the wider community.”
Make a difference at Relay this year
Relay For Life is a global movement active in 36 countries and 6,000 communities worldwide. Join this unique opportunity to raise funds, celebrate life and honour those affected by cancer like Dianne.
You can participate at your community’s Relay For Life event, or you can sign up for Relay My Way and help fund life-saving cancer research from anywhere in Canada.
“Your money is helping people through their cancer journey, helping people to not have to go through a cancer journey. It’s making a huge difference.
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.