Most people know that I make my living producing events - most often, fundraising events for various charities. I know that if I asked my friends, family and loved ones to support every organization I get involved with I wouldn't have many friends left.
But this is different.
I have spent the past year working with an amazing group of people who saw a problem and decided to do something about it - in a big way. The Answer for Cancer Tour was the idea of two friends: Jason Bosa and Del Ferguson. They wanted to hit the road on their Harleys for an extended period of time. Why not hit all of the lower-48 states and 10 provinces? And hey, if they were going to do that and take the time needed away from work and businesses, it really would make sense to raise money and awareness along the way. Their first idea was to call it the T & A Tour - for breast and prostate cancer. Good idea right? Including everyone?
Enter Lori. She dropped into Jason's store one day and he told her what they were doing. They were inviting other riders to join them along the way and Lori jumped in with both feet. They started looking at potential charities to partner with and talking the idea up more with friends and colleagues.
Then Dr. Christina Tondora called Lori after seeing a Facebook post: "I like what you're doing and I have to be involved." It was Christina that suggested that the focus should be on PREVENTION rather than raising yet more money for research or treatment - that's big business. But statistics are now saying that 80-90% of cancers can be prevented by focusing on a few different areas: the foods we eat; physical factors such as sunlight, asbestos and x-rays; biological factors such as viruses and bacteria; and chemical contaminants such as the cleaning or health and beauty products we use in our homes.
Imagine if cancer weren't an inevitable disease, but rather something to be prevented through lifestyle choices and education. What if we can make a difference by changing our “personal sustainability,” that is, our daily choices regarding what we ingest, what we think and what we do? What if we can metabolically transform our bodies to live longer, healthier and happier? What if we can cause government to address laws regarding environmental toxins and their regulation? What if the cure, was simply…prevention?
The team found two charities - one in Canada and one in the US - that focus on lobbying government and educating the public on prevention. Removal of BPAs from plastics, removal of harmful chemicals from beauty products and household cleaners, reminders that whole foods and healthy eating rather than processed and junk foods are the way to balance and health. In Canada, the charity is Prevent Cancer Now with a mission to ELIMINATE the preventable causes of cancer. In the US, the Breast Cancer Fund identifies and advocates for the elimination of the environmental and other preventable causes of the disease.
The Answer for Cancer Tour quickly grew more than any one of them expected. And that's how I got involved. I was actually looking to participate as a volunteer, offering my event producing experience to help out if needed, and quickly took on a larger role than I ever anticipated, helping with the details and planning and ultimately agreeing to go on the trip with the team as road manager.
A year later and we are 12 days from the finish line. We left Vancouver on Saturday, June 11 and zig-zagged our way through the US, up the east coast into Canada and the Maritimes, and currently have just crossed the border into Michigan with 8 states and 3 provinces left before arriving back home on Saturday, August 13 - having completed 30,000 km / 20,000 miles.
We have seen devastation in Joplin, Missouri and strength and hope in the patients at IWK Children's Hospital in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
We have gone through the heat and humidity of the southern US and the grey and colder temperatures of the Maritimes and Newfoundland.
We've lost people we know and care about since June 11 - many to cancer. Had family members in the hospital, household issues to deal with, and lost pets.
We have met people everywhere who have been touched by this disease: from Frances in Mississippi who lost four siblings and just had a nephew diagnosed, to Michael in Rapid City, South Dakota who lost two brothers, to Candy in Texas - a 20 year survivor of ovarian cancer, to Parker, a 9-year-old in Charlottetown, PEI who has been battling leukemia for the past year but has the brightest spirit and most positive outlook anyone could ever imagine.
We've had mechanical breakdowns with the bikes and the support vehicle, emotional breakdowns, stress overload, and weather delays; but we've persevered through them all and have come out stronger as a team because it's not about us, but the ultimate goal: to spread this message and connect with others - one person at a time - whether it's at a gas stop, in a restaurant, in the hotel lobby, or at an event.
We have seen devastation in Joplin, Missouri and strength and hope in the patients at IWK Children's Hospital in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
We have gone through the heat and humidity of the southern US and the grey and colder temperatures of the Maritimes and Newfoundland.
We've lost people we know and care about since June 11 - many to cancer. Had family members in the hospital, household issues to deal with, and lost pets.
We have met people everywhere who have been touched by this disease: from Frances in Mississippi who lost four siblings and just had a nephew diagnosed, to Michael in Rapid City, South Dakota who lost two brothers, to Candy in Texas - a 20 year survivor of ovarian cancer, to Parker, a 9-year-old in Charlottetown, PEI who has been battling leukemia for the past year but has the brightest spirit and most positive outlook anyone could ever imagine.
We've had mechanical breakdowns with the bikes and the support vehicle, emotional breakdowns, stress overload, and weather delays; but we've persevered through them all and have come out stronger as a team because it's not about us, but the ultimate goal: to spread this message and connect with others - one person at a time - whether it's at a gas stop, in a restaurant, in the hotel lobby, or at an event.
We have had a lot of fun together too. Meeting wonderful people wherever we go; seeing parts of the US and Canada that many of us had only ever heard or read about; being awed by the incredible beauty of Mesa Verde, Arches, the New England coast and Newfoundland; and so many great times just spending time together laughing and telling stories.
I have been blessed.
I am not only coming away from this trip having fulfilled many desires and goals (road-tripping the US, driving on a racetrack with a professional driver - next time, I drive!, visiting Newfoundland and the Canadian Maritimes) but I have also learned a great deal about myself and the kind of person I want to continue to be. Most importantly I will be leaving this experience with some incredible new people in my life. I have been corrected and encouraged and defended (thanks Del and Jason!) and kept healthy and pain free (thanks Christina), and received more support than ever expected (thank you all) since the beginning. I know I have developed life-long relationships during these weeks. Del, Jason and Christina will always hold a very special place in my heart and in my life and I look forward to seeing where this road will continue to take each one of us.
I am not only coming away from this trip having fulfilled many desires and goals (road-tripping the US, driving on a racetrack with a professional driver - next time, I drive!, visiting Newfoundland and the Canadian Maritimes) but I have also learned a great deal about myself and the kind of person I want to continue to be. Most importantly I will be leaving this experience with some incredible new people in my life. I have been corrected and encouraged and defended (thanks Del and Jason!) and kept healthy and pain free (thanks Christina), and received more support than ever expected (thank you all) since the beginning. I know I have developed life-long relationships during these weeks. Del, Jason and Christina will always hold a very special place in my heart and in my life and I look forward to seeing where this road will continue to take each one of us.
But this journey isn't over yet. We still have 12 days to go - 8 more states, 3 more provinces and all the people and events and challenges ahead. And we still have a goal to meet.
And this brings me back to the beginning...I don't usually ask you to support the organizations I work with - but this one is VERY different.
And this brings me back to the beginning...I don't usually ask you to support the organizations I work with - but this one is VERY different.
Each one of us has been affected by cancer in one way or another. Either a personal experience or scare, that of a family member or other loved one, or watching a friend going through it. Diagnosis, treatment, hopefully recovery, often loss. It is an ugly and unforgiving disease.
But each one of us has the ability to make choices and changes in our own lives - and to affect the lives of those we care about: parents, children, friends. We can all lessen our personal risks of contracting cancer. It's simple really. Start with one thing and then add another. You can start acting on these things here
And take a moment right now to donate to the great work that the Answer for Cancer Tour is supporting with Prevent Cancer Now and the Breast Cancer Fund. Tell government and business that we don't want the harmful chemicals in our everyday products anymore. If you live in Canada, please pledge one of the people that have become so important to me this summer. And if you're in the US, you can do the same here. We also have a Gala planned for October so if you don't want to pledge but could possibly offer something for auction, please email me
Please don't think "I can do this later"...please do this now. Let's make a change - one person, one ACTion at a time.
But each one of us has the ability to make choices and changes in our own lives - and to affect the lives of those we care about: parents, children, friends. We can all lessen our personal risks of contracting cancer. It's simple really. Start with one thing and then add another. You can start acting on these things here
And take a moment right now to donate to the great work that the Answer for Cancer Tour is supporting with Prevent Cancer Now and the Breast Cancer Fund. Tell government and business that we don't want the harmful chemicals in our everyday products anymore. If you live in Canada, please pledge one of the people that have become so important to me this summer. And if you're in the US, you can do the same here. We also have a Gala planned for October so if you don't want to pledge but could possibly offer something for auction, please email me
Please don't think "I can do this later"...please do this now. Let's make a change - one person, one ACTion at a time.
