Ignite the next
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breakthroughs

[Tyler is kayaking on a lake and wearing a Canadian Cancer Society-branded scarf. His expression is serious.]

[A polaroid-style photo appears of Tyler’s mother smiling on a boat.]

Tyler: I was 9 years old when my mother was diagnosed with stomach cancer.

[Tyler is speaking to the camera.]

Tyler: Life was perfect.

[Photos appear of Tyler’s family when they were younger. They are all happy and smiling. The photos include one of a young child on a Sea-Doo and one of Tyler’s mom smiling and holding one of her children.]

Tyler: My parents had a successful business, we had a nice home, we had a camp we would go to and a boat. It was a perfect life, and all that came crumbling down.

[A photo appears of Tyler’s sister, Jennifer, smiling.]

Words on screen: 17 years after losing his mother to stomach cancer, Tyler’s oldest sister Jennifer is diagnosed with the same disease.

[Tyler is speaking to the camera.]

Tyler: My reaction to my sister Jennifer being diagnosed with stomach cancer… My first thought was, “it's happening again?” And I couldn't understand why it would happen to our family twice. Unfortunately, it brought everything back, and I knew what was going to happen.

[A photo appears of Tyler dancing with Jennifer.]

Tyler: It was just as hard as an adult as it was as a child.

[Tyler, his wife, and their 2 sons are looking out over a lake.]

Tyler: Doctors suggested there could be a genetic link. We didn't find out until after Jennifer passed that we did test positive.

[A photo appears of Dr David Huntsman looking into a microscope.]

Words on screen: Canadian Cancer Society-funded research by Dr Huntsman leads to a breakthrough in genetic testing for hereditary stomach cancer.

[A photo appears of Dr David Huntsman smiling in a lab.]

Words on screen: Early detection and prevention of the disease is transformed, allowing those who test positive for a specific genetic mutation to have their stomach removed.

[Tyler is speaking to the camera.]

Tyler: The risk of getting cancer with this genetic mutation … It varies on the studies, but it's upwards of a 70% chance of developing it in your life.

[Tyler and his family are sitting on a park bench.]

Tyler: When I tested positive for the genetic mutation, I had already had my mind made up that I would have the surgery.

Words on screen: In 2010, Tyler opted to have this stomach removed.

[Tyler and his family are sitting on a park bench and feeding ducks.]

Tyler: One of the easiest factors for doing it was my other sister, Shelly, had gone through it first. It was easier to see the road that I would be going down.

[Tyler is speaking to the camera.]

Tyler: Knowing I had someone there with me the whole time helped.

[Tyler and his family, including his wife, Nikki, are petting animals at a farm.]

Tyler: The biggest supporter was my wife, Nikki. She helped and she really educated herself too, with the meals and eating and all that stuff that goes along with it.

[Tyler is feeding a baby goat at a farm.]

Tyler: Before the surgery, they found no traces of cancer.

[A bird lands on Tyler’s hand and starts eating from it.]

Tyler: And at the time of the surgery, they found no trace of cancer. But further biopsies found 5 tumours.

[Tyler is speaking to the camera.]

Tyler: So that just reaffirmed how important it was to go with the surgery.

[Tyler and his son are sitting on a bench overlooking a lake.]

Tyler: Having the surgery allowed me to have children of my own and continue with a life, and a great life.

[Tyler and his sons are playing video games.]

[A framed family photo in Tyler’s home appears.]

[Tyler is kayaking on a lake.]

Tyler: I feel 100% that I rewrote my future.

[Tyler is speaking to the camera.]

Tyler: Had I not gone with the surgery, I wouldn't be around to enjoy these moments.

[Tyler is feeding a baby goat at a farm while one of his sons sits beside him.]

Tyler: Research funded by the Canadian Cancer Society saved mine and my sister's life.

[A yellow background appears.]

Words on screen: This Leave a Legacy Month, learn how you can make a lasting impact.

[The Canadian Cancer Society logo and the words “It takes a society” appear on screen.]

 

There are many advantages. Your gift will have a meaningful impact to help future generations. You can make a larger gift than might otherwise have been possible in your lifetime. And a gift in your will can help you achieve tax and financial goals.

Yes, you simply need to specify in your will that you wish to remain anonymous. CCS will respect the gift as well as your wish for privacy and will not disclose your identity.

Your future gift will enable CCS to fund world-leading cancer research, provide a nationwide support system for those affected by cancer and help to shape public policies to protect the health of all people across the country.

At the Canadian Cancer Society, we believe that everyone should have a will, and it's important to prepare it with the guidance of both a lawyer and a financial advisor. Including a charitable gift adds a few minutes to those conversations and just a few sentences to the will.

Yes, the Canadian Cancer Society collaborates with Epilogue and Willfora for online will planning. You can learn more about these services by visiting their websites or reaching out to us for additional information.

Yes, once the gift is received, CCS issues an official tax receipt for the donation to the estate.