Ask Diane Way about her dream of finding a cure for cancer and she'll tell you straight up that it's possible because anything is possible.
She should know because she's a survivor herself. When she participates in the CIBC Run for the Cure in Edmonton, she isn't just going for a Sunday stroll. She's raising money to improve the odds and save lives.
“For now, it's at least helping us make cancer more of a chronic disease rather than a deadly disease,” she began. “I'm just one of the lucky ones who are still here. It's about little baby steps. All of this goes toward helping us create a future without breast cancer or any kind of cancer. I think what research and what all of these donations are doing is making it more of a chronic disease that can be treated.”
This is her third time participating. Last year, more than 50 communities hosted 170,000 runners who all helped to raise about $26.5 million for research. Way likes the thought of giving back to a cause that helped her so much when she was going through treatment.
“It was so wonderful, all of the help and support that I was given at the Cross Cancer Institute. For that reason, when this came around, I just felt I needed to do something too. As a cancer survivor you realize how much money is spent on you to keep you alive. I'm not one for just taking all the time and I just feel like at least this way I can give back and also help make a difference for people who may in the future experience this. Hopefully [more people] will never experience this.”
She has a unique way of enticing people to sponsor her. The local artist has a little bonus incentive where she will be giving away a framed limited edition giclée print of her watercolour painting entitled Me and the Buoys. Every $25 donation equals one entry into the contest.
“The thing is I always hate to bug people for money. Every year this run rolls around and every year you feel like you're asking people for more money. This way I feel like I'm giving something also.”
She's also pretty pleased to think that this money could benefit different kinds of cancer research.
“The thing is all cancer patients benefit from any advances in research. It doesn't really matter what type of cancer you have. All of this money will be helpful.”
The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation is the leading national volunteer organization dedicated to beating breast cancer. It has invested $230 million to fund, support and advocate for treatment, research, education and awareness programs, and to improve the quality of life for those living with breast cancer. This is the nineteenth year of the run and it remains the largest, single-day, volunteer-led national event in support of breast cancer.
