Who we are and what we represent
Everyone, and every family that has been touched by this horrible disease has their share of stories. There are the lows. There are the moments of hope and victory. There are the moment s of dread and fear. For some Cancers, including ovarian Cancer, the Cancer that touched our family, in the vast majority of cases there is a fight for several years, and finally a resignation, and defeat.
Along the way, there can be several snap shot moments that capture the deep contempt and hatred towards this killer. One of our moments, the moment that crystallized our movement, and desire to continue the fight against Cancer by raising funds for research came several weeks before we lost our wife and mother.
In an attempt to determine if the disease had spread to the lungs, we were undergoing a lung biopsy.
This diagnostic test required inserting a probe through the nasal passage, all the way down the throat, and into the lungs where a small device can take tissue specimens.
It is a terribly invasive procedure that is extremely painful and creates an enormous amount of stress on the respiratory system. I sat outside the treatment room in a chair by myself, listening to what can only be described as torture, and wept quietly for what seemed like an eternity.
When I was finally allowed to enter the room and be with my wife, I watched as she struggled courageously to try and breathe. It was one of the lowest points in our almost 4 year battle. Totally helpless, I silently prayed for her breath to return. We were both crying, but at least we were crying together. Several minutes later a nurse entered the room and asked us simply “how are you doing?”
Given the circumstances of our situation, and what we had just endured, the banality of the question was almost absurd. I recognize today with the benefit of time and context that she meant no harm, and was just “doing her job”.
My wife looked up at her, managed to catch her breath, and compose herself. With a strength, resolve and anger I had never seen before, and cold steely eyes, she responded. “How am I doing??? This is a walk in the park………….FUCK CANCER!”
This courage, anger, and resolve was a beautiful testimony to my wife’s desire to live, her fight against Cancer, and her passion for life. I knew at that moment that the emotions embodied in that two word offensive attack on Cancer would be a mantra at some point in the future to galvanize and energize support to continue the fight.
Our beautiful wife and mother lost her life to Ovarian Cancer several weeks later on January 9th 2010. November 24th 2011 is the date of our second annual “Fuck Cancer” party. In 2010 we had over 350 young people who purchased t-shirts as admission tickets for our event. The shirts were printed in 5 different colors, representing the 5 different cancers we chose to support. All of the net proceeds, over $8000.00, went directly to support the Segal Cancer Center of the Jewish General Hospital.
This year we are targeting over 700 people with a passion to continue raising money to find a cure for this terrible disease. We have wonderful dreams for the years to come, including simulcasting events from different locations nationally, and even internationally.
Thank you for your interest, passion, and support. We who have lost so much to Cancer want to move past the fear of this disease. The anger and drive that burns inside us all is something that cancer should fear. There will come a day where through the collective efforts of so many people raising funds for research, and the tireless research of brilliant and dedicated Doctors and scientists we will kill cancer.
Our journey is “just a walk in the park”.