Stories

Thank you for sharing!

 

Michel Patenaude – Montreal, QC

“Despite my age and physical fitness as a marathon runner, my recovery was extremely arduous. I am left with some minor after-effects, but that reminds me daily of how fortunate I am!” exclaims Michel, who has not only persevered, but has returned to an incredible life. Read Michel’s story…
 

Dave D’Entremont – Fredericton, NB

In 2004, Dave founded the Brain Tumour Walk in Fredericton, New Brunswick– an event for survivors, family, friends, coworkers, and anyone wishing to show support. Read Dave’s story…
 

Traci Chambers – Kitchener-Waterloo, ON

After receiving her diagnosis, Traci has been participating in the Brain Tumour Walks since 2017. She and Team Acoustic Neuroma Awareness are planning to participate live in the Kitchener-Waterloo Brain Tumour Walk this year; the last two walks were virtual due to COVID-19. Read Traci’s story…
 

Myriam Boucher-Pinard – Montreal, QC

Myriam Boucher-Pinard is a university student at Concordia, double majoring in a Bachelor of Arts and Science in Psychology, with a Bachelor in Honours Pure & Applied Mathematics. Read Myriam’s story…
 

Chris Quinton – Paradise, NL

“I always had headaches, but I brushed them off as being normal. You don’t expect to go to your doctor to hear you have a brain tumour,” he explains. Read Chris’s story…
 

Andrea Frossard – London, ON

“I started doing this walk after my mom was first diagnosed with a brain tumour in late 2012. I have walked every year since,” she says. Read Andrea’s story…
 

Team Grant’s Guys – Edmonton, AB

Min Lappin, Terry, and Pamela Junck are strong supporters of Team ‘Grant’s Guys’, as they walk to keep Grant’s legacy and memory alive. Read Team Grant’s story…
 

Renee Fonte – Kitchener-Waterloo, ON

Renee Fonte, in 2015, started participating in the Brain Tumour Walk, in Kitchener-Waterloo, initially, in support of her cousin Orlanda. She was diagnosed with a glioblastoma that same year. Read Renee’s story…
 

Tracy and Tania Stevens – Belleville, ON

This dynamic duo participates annually in the Belleville Brain Tumour Walk. The main reason why they walk every year is for the camaraderie and community support, shared between everyone who has been affected by a brain tumour. Read Tracy and Tania’s story…
 

Barbara Armstrong – London, ON

After losing her beloved daughter Andrea to a glioblastoma in 2002, Barbara Armstrong’s journey with Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada began instantaneously. “I wanted to help raise money and awareness for the Foundation, so other parents would not have to suffer like our family did,” she explains. Read Team Andrea’s Army story…
 

Keith Anderson – Edmonton, AB

It has been over twenty years since Keith Anderson was first diagnosed with a stage 2 oligodendroglioma brain tumour. “It is a significant anniversary for me and my family,” he says. Read Keith’s story…
 

Anne Megahy – Toronto, ON

While shopping with her husband one morning in 1992, Anne Megahy was about to remind him of something as he was about to enter a store. Read Anne’s story…
 

Glenda Szpecht – Calgary, AB

A message from Glenda- The Szpecht-acular Sprinters’ Story. Andrew Szpecht had a passion for and was a natural at sports. He loved nothing better than grabbing his snowboard and heading up to Sunshine or Fernie to “shred some epic powder”! Read Glenda’s story…
 

Michele Bliss – Hamilton-Niagara, ON

Michele Bliss first donned her survivor shirt to walk along with Team Dan. She was supporting a local friend living with a brain tumour. The event soon evolved to walking with members of that same team, who subsequently lost their sister to a brain tumour. “I walk because I want to stop adding names to the list of people for whom I walk,” states Michele. “I walk to raise money and awareness for research that leads to treatments such as immunotherapy. Read Michele’s story…
 

Janet Hempler – Edmonton, AB

Janet was diagnosed with an oligodendroglioma in 2015. Shortly after her diagnosis, she started attending the adult support group at Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada. Read Janet’s story…
 

Georgia Trimidas – Montreal, QC

In 2014, Georgia Trimidas’ cousin, Ari, was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour. “The news was devastating; not only for Ari, but for everyone who loved him,” she says fondly. Read Georgia’s story…
 

Valerie Stypula – Edmonton, AB

“You have a brain tumour!” these words would change my and my children’s lives forever,” states Valerie Stypula, who had lost her husband to the disease on September 21st, 2001, at the age of 53. Read Valerie’s story…
 

Lois Tucker – Toronto, ON

Lois Tucker’s journey with Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada began on July 27, 2009, when her husband, Paul, was diagnosed with an astrocytoma at the age of 34. Read Team Keating’s story…
 

Marni Mills – Calgary, AB

Marni is 30 years old. She is one of 55,000 Canadians living with a brain tumour. On August 11th, 2020, marked 25 years since she and her family first heard the words: “You have a brain tumour”. She was diagnosed with a glioma, which was roughly the size of a golf ball. Read Marni’s story…
 

Paul Chapman – Greater Vancouver, BC

In July of 2007, Paul Chapman started having headaches. Since having a benign golf-ball sized brain tumour resected in 1995, he was very concerned. With the onset of these unusual headaches, Paul requested an MRI from his doctor, being concerned that he had another tumour. Read Paul’s story…
 

Lori Wilson – Calgary, AB

Twenty years ago this June, with her husband by her side, Lori Wilson was informed that she had a large brain tumour which needed to be removed. Read Lori’s story…
 

Rhonda Head – Winnipeg, MB

“Tansi! Hello! My name is Rhonda Head, and I am from the Opaskwayak Cree Nation in Northern Manitoba.” In 1992, Rhonda had a brain tumour, and went through an 11.5 hour-long translab surgery. When the tumour returned, she received the Gamma Knife treatment. She remembers the journey and the number of challenges she faced– a new “normal “, putting life on hold to heal, and focusing on healing her body. Read Rhonda’s story…
 
 

Vicki Burgess – London, ON

“We are the ‘Burgess Blackdogs” and we participate annually at the Brain Tumour Walk in London, Ontario,” proudly states Vicki Burgess. “Our family rallies together to support Tim and his wife, who is a home care worker– and takes great care of him! Read Vicki’s story…
 

Samantha Fernie – Montreal, QC

In 2003, Samantha Fernie’s father, Keith Fernie, was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour. “After spending my entire childhood watching him battle this disease, I was driven to give back and help other families. Read Samantha’s story…
 

Shelley Hrycay – Sudbury, ON

Shelley Hrycay is the proud grandmother of an amazing young man, Kody. “He is the strongest, bravest person I know. He inspires me all the time. He loves people and everyone loves him,” Shelley glows. Read Shelley’s story…
 

Anne Centracchio – Brampton, ON

For over a decade Anne Centracchio has been participating in the Brampton Brain Tumour Walk. She is connected to Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada for a reason very dear to her heart. “I walk every year to honour my sweet niece, Jennifer Capretta,” she lovingly expresses. Read Anne’s story…
 

Scott Neville – Belleville, ON

“The main reasons are the connections– the connections I’ve made with the other fighters and survivors. We all belong to an exclusive club that none of us would have chosen to join. Read Scott’s story…
 

Anita Nixon – Edmonton, AB

The year 2021 marked the 10th consecutive year that Anita Nixon, along with her husband Chris and daughter Kimberly have participated in the Edmonton Brain Tumour Walk. “In October 2013, our daughter and sister Madonna lost her battle with a brain tumour at the age of 26. Read Anita’s story…
 

Barb Clark – Guelph, ON

Barb Clark was first diagnosed with a brain tumour in 1995, but prior to a seizure that hospitalized her at age 37, she describes “having no symptoms whatsoever”. She was informed that the tumour was inoperable. The doctors gave her two years to live. “I was told early on that I would not see our kids graduate, get married or have children”. Read Barb’s story…
 

Arlette Boghoskhan – Montreal, QC

Six years ago, Arlette Boghoskhan heard an ad on the radio for the Spring Sprint; now known as the Brain Tumour Walk. She hasn’t looked back since! Arlette met her first brain tumour patient in 2002, who happened to be her father as his lung cancer metastasized to his brain. Read Arlette’s story…
 

Alysha Cooper – Belleville, ON

For several years, Alysha Cooper has been an active member of Team Holly and Kate in the Belleville Brain Tumour Walk. “It is a day for everyone who is affected by a brain tumour in the community to come together and share their experiences.” Alysha passionately expresses. Read Alysha’s story…