Welcome to Butterfly of Hope
Dear Friends,
I have been fortunate enough to meet fabulous people in 9 cities that have conducted the 60km WEEKEND TO END BREAST CANCER walks who have shown me endless support and continue to inspire me to press on with the fight against this disease. Some of them like Pamela Johnston (Winnipeg) are no longer with us, and have lost their own battles with cancer. Some, like my friend Kate in Toronto started her journey, as I did, healthy and supportive of friends and loved ones who were fighting cancer, then only to fall prey to it herself three weeks prior to the 2006 Walk in Toronto. Can you just imagine the pain that went through her heart when her little boy asked, “Mommy, are you going to die?” It is for them and for everyone whose life has been touched by this disease that we continue to carry on and so that no other mother has to hear that devastating question from one of her children..
Well ...7 years 35 events and 2140 kms later like so many I too have been touched with Cancer.
But this is not the End but a New beginning. Like the WEEKEND TO END BREAST CANCER has changed to THE WEEKEND TO END WOMEN’S CANCER’S so I too must make a change. I must go through the routine of all those fun treatments and walk my own road to recovery. In order to do that I must after 35 events take some time off from walking. However I am pleased to say that my BUTTERFLY will still fly and will be at all the events.
Thank you Louise Eisfeld and Robin Gitnick for taking up the challenge and walking in all 6 events in 2010. These two bold ladies will be walking along side other participants in OTTAWA, CALGARY, EDMONTON, VANCOUVER MONTREAL and TORONTO and also the BUTTERFLY OF HOPE teams that are being formed. They are looking to build teams of 35 people where each person will represent each of my walks over the past 7 years. Each city will start with 35 walkers and if the demand is greater it will expand to 70 as it has been decided already for Toronto.
A separate team for crew members is being discussed. So if anyone thinks they can put together 35 crew members let me know.
So many memories and friendships have been formed and to my 800 plus friends on FB I’ve had the privilege of walking 60km’s with. It was an honor.
Walking in the rain (Van. 2004) the sudden drop of temperature (plus 5) in Toronto 2007, the increase of walks to 4 in 2005 and then 7 in 2006 (what were you thinking) and naturally the famous speed bumps of Calgary and Edmonton. We call those hills people. Yes Montreal you have yours to. (Mount Royal.) Vancouver again and 4th Ave at the end of the walk. But what majestic views once you got to the top. Yes we all complained and bitched about them and still do any time we see an incline. Stop for a moment next time to come to one of these speed bumps, think what it will take to get over it and remember that for you it’s over soon. Then look at the person next to you, in front of you or behind you wearing that PINK lanyard and try to imagine the hills, speed bumps and anguish that person has to endure long after the event is over. Let’s not kid ourselves walking is a little hard as those who develop sore muscles, blisters, heat exhaustion, cramps knows, but those aches will go away. The physical scars and the emotional scars of Cancer patients live on.
The BUTTERFLY OF HOPE team is CREATING HOPE…ONE STEP AT A TIME.
For many people who have been affected by a diagnosis of cancer, be they the person afflicted or a loved one, hope may be all that is left. You will find over time that hope goes beyond finding a cure.
Hope is the driving force that keeps us all moving forward. Hope can be elusive, but it is not unattainable. Everyone must remember that hope isn't a single little tidbit of grace. Hope is a collection of little miracles that feeds your spirit. You are that collection of little miracles. With your fundraising and walking you are giving those fighting cancer that HOPE that yes they will beat it and that they will become fully functioning members of society well into their golden years. Give them HOPE that they will hold their grand children in their arms one day and that that child will not hear those words YOU HAVE CANCER.
My mother in law battled breast cancer for 15 years. And in late 2004 when it came back it came back with a vengence and went right to her bones and lungs. I will always remember going to see her and remember how she looked. The skelton of a body with a skin overlay. Remembering how she had trouble breathing and how it impacted her when she tried to talk. How she wouldn’t let me leave her bedside until we finished talking or in this case she talked I listened.
I guess really you have to experience the pain of watching someone you care about suffer thru cancer and then feel the electricity in the air at one of these events that instills so much hope for the future to really understand that the answer to the "WHY?" is really just "BECAUSE YOU CAN".
I hope that people will not simply focus on the bad things.
I want people to know that no matter how hard a survivor has it, greater things will come from it.
No matter how hard this disease attempts to break their souls, it fails miserably.
Yes, it may mutilate them. Yes, it may fatigue them. And yes, it may cause them and even us to question our faith. But one thing is certain: it cannot beat their spirit.
We all at some point in our lives need some inspiration to keep us motivated. To keep us going. Calgary 2006 and we’re walking up heartbreak hill (speed bump). Another hill! I hate hills. OK I don’t hate them but my knees and ankles and hips sure do and they bring back memories of old past injuries. This is where the cheap drugs and booze would come in handy (STELLA). That day I told myself that I was not going to Edmonton, Vancouver or to Montreal. I would rest and walk in Irene’s memory in Toronto and think about next year. When I arrived home on Monday there was one e-mail that caught my attention. Though similar to most that I have been receiving this one was different as it reminded me what I did with the survivors. It was from a Survivor that walked in Calgary.
Part of the email read
"Chad You are the most amazing man. When you came up to hug the survivors in Calgary, I was just in awe of your generous spirit. Thank you for all that you do – you truly are making a difference and inspiring so many.’
Upon some research I found out this woman lost a grandmother, mother and two sisters to Cancer and on Sept 11, experienced her own 9/11 when she was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast/bone cancer and a poor prognosis based on family history.
Today, Shannon celebrates the 9 plus year survivor mark and chooses to truly LIVE each day and tries to make a difference in this world. Thank you my friend for inspiring me to carry on and for the inspiration you give to so many. Though there were days in the plus 35 degree weather, frigid winds, cold rain, and soggy camps I thought about you and thank you was not on my mind. Thank you Shannon for being there. Thank you Kayla for being the inspiration behind what is now the Childrens ‘K’ walk in some cities. Thank you for having me walk with you in that first walk where 70 children and one old geezer walked 10km’s in the pouring rain. That was fun. And the best part is the children raised over $16,000 for the Calgary WEEKEND TO END BREAST CANCER IN 2007
So many memories. Who would have thought to walk in Toronto 60km’s and then walk another 60km’s in Vancouver on the same weekend. That’s a keeper.
And thank you my little Chadow that followed me to that event and 3 others in 2008.
Trust me when I say these events are changing lives. It’s changed mine in so many ways.
There are few things that a person can do in a lifetime that can actually impact millions of lives, and this event The WEEKEND TO END BREAST CANCER now known as the WEEKEND TO END WOMEN’S CANCERS is indeed one of them.
Hope means different things to different people.
But the common theme with us all is that hope is borne of the inborn desire to live, to see, to hear and to touch the things that we hold dear.
You’re here to join us now in our journey.
The road is guaranteed to be bumpy, but there are many pockets of goodness all along the way.
You'll see.
Join us! We are the BUTTERFLY OF HOPE with teams in Ottawa, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto.
You can go to www.endcancer.ca or to the team page link.
As we know, life is worth living regardless of personal tragedy. We remember Irene Fenton, Bev Forest, Pamela Johnson, Ann Dzugan, Carolyn Sturgess, Bev Flagg,
I was humbled to have been a part of such an incredible but unfortunate journey. There were tears, joy, empathy, sympathy, determination, courage, and yes blisters and sore muscles, but what an overwhelming accomplishment to have achieved!
I was moved by the supporters on the streets, the pink ribbons tied to trees and houses along our route, all pushing us on to achieve the end to such a terrible disease that destroys families and communities.
And now the torch is passed on to all of you. Create your legacy in 2010 with the largest nationwide team this event has seen.
If you’ve walked in the past and haven’t for a while come back again.
Interested in a team to join? With open arms we welcome you.
Or pick a member from the BUTTERFLY OF HOPE team and support them financially.
Please check out the merchandise page
Letters and feeling about these events
Drop your own words of encouragement to others
Visit the team pages
TO ALL OF YOU FIGHTING CANCER (and my Mother …3 year survivor) I SEND YOU LOVE AND HOPE.
Contact info chad@butterflyofhope.ca