GOALS AND GIVING - Interview by Sue Van Der Hout
by Sue Van Der Hout
Ever thought about ovarian cancer? In the US the estimated number of new cases of ovarian cancer last year was 22,430. In the U.K there are 6600 cases diagnosed every year. In 2006, 2300 cases were diagnosed in Canada.. Save your life and those you love. Ovarian cancer is highly treatable when diagnosed early (see resources below).
Courage defines survivors. It also defines those who walk with them. Josiane, aged 14, who recently moved to Victoria from Britain, decided to support her Aunt Mel who was recently diagnosed with ovarian cancer by taking on a huge personal challenge: kayaking around a peninsula in Victoria to raise money for ovarian cancer research. She says it was her Aunt Mel’s picture taped to her kayak gave her the strength to keep going.
GOALS AND GIVING
Interview by Sue Van Der Hout
Josiane, What inspired you?
My inspiration is my Aunt Mel [who was recently diagnosed with ovarian cancer]. Family members had done fundraisers and I wanted to do something challenging for me.
Mandy, what inspired Josiane?
My sister (in-law) Mel took part in The Race For Life the previous Summer in memory of a friend´s mother. She’d registered to participate again this past summer past but then her own cancer was diagnosed. She wasn´t well enough post surgery to attend the run.
It’s a case of it couldn’t happen to a nicer person – she’s only 34. Mel has 2 kids, 4 & 2.
She’s one of those people who always puts others ahead of herself. When our children were little, she’d tell them that she’d listen to their dreams and take the bad dreams away.
Josie heard about her Aunt Mel, she asked how she could help. We talked about how early diagnosis is so critical and chatted about what she could do. It had to be something that she could handle and was interested in.
So Josie was rather taking up the mantle. It wasn’t easy at all. We’ve just moved to Victoria, Josie just started kayaking and we don’t know many people. I don’t know where Josiane gets her energy from. Whatever the challenge is, she just powers through it. Quietly.
Josiane, why kayaking? I discussed it with my Dad. He suggested kayaking around Victoria Island but that’s too far. It would have taken me 2 months!! So I said ok; maybe round the peninsula. It was the biggest thing I’d ever attempted.
Mandy, what did you think about the kayaking?
Kayaking is my husband’s passion. He helped pick the challenge. It was a big enterprise. I think Josiane gets her ´get up & go´ and her exciting ideas from watching her Dad and from her Dad’s genes [laughing]; not from me. My role is to work behind the scenes, being practical and putting things into place so that things run smoothly. I guess that´s what makes my husband and I a great team together!
Josiane, how did you get sponsors?
We contacted the Ovarian Cancer Society. They sent us the forms. It explained everything. I got neighbours and friends to sponsor me. I had a lot of help from neighbours. I really didn’t know many because the neighbourhood is quiet and we’re new so I didn’t know many. And I spoke at school and got people there to sponsor.
Mandy, how difficult was getting sponsors? How much did Josiane raise?
We contacted the local paper to get sponsorship. That had its pros and cons. Sponsorship came from families that are similarly affected and it was so hard. We didn’t foresee that she would have to take that on. Josiane wrote back to them and that was so hard. The vast majority was from neighbours and kids at school. She raised $1463.00.
Josiane, were you afraid to take up the challenge? What kept you going?
It seemed so huge that couldn’t imagine actually completing it. I was so scared and nervous. Maggie Hodgson of Pacifica Paddle Sports and my Dad were with me. We did it on August 26. It was a perfect day for it. Mom baked me loads of goodies; and was there at every stop. Mom’s pretty supportive. It was sooo hard, but I kept setting tiny goals – get to the next tree, or point. I kept a picture of my Aunt Mel on my kayak.
I didn’t finish the entire kayak on the first day. I did 25 miles the first day but it got dark. I was so disappointed. But I went back and finished the next day. I actually had to back track 10 miles to get back in.
Mandy, how did the actual event make you feel?
I was very worried. It is a very long way and it can be dangerous. Also, I didn’t want her to fail. I’d hoped that we’d set something up that was a challenge, but also a realistic goal. We went to the local kayaking store where we’d bought the equipment. We talked with them. They gave us the expertise and explained what commitment a paddle like that was like. They were so helpful. They charted out the route and set rest stops. My son who’s now 13 prepared the food and came with me in the van to meet them at the rest stops.
Josiane, how did you feel?
Exhausted.
Mandy, how did the challenge impact you?
Change impacts everything – every piece changes everything else. Moving here, Mel’s illness, the challenge has been a lot. We’re like pioneers here in Victoria – starting again. I’m back at college, possibly the most qualified unemployed person in Canada (science degree; trained as a dietician; doctorate in physiology; post graduate degree in education; training to be a special education teacher). It’s an adventure. I’m very proud of Josiane.
Josiane, how did the challenge impact you?
I’m one of those people that’s quite shy and doesn’t do much. Doing this opened a number of possibilities. I’m setting high goals for myself because I did this.
Resources:
Save your own life or the lives of women you love. On June 13, 2007, the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation, the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists and the American Cancer Society led the effort to form a consensus statement released that identified symptoms that women with early stage ovarian cancer have much more frequently than women in the general population.
The symptoms: bloating; pelvic or abdominal pain; difficulty eating or feeling full quickly; urinary urgency or frequency.
See:
National Cancer Institute www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/ovarian
Medline – US National Library of Medicine MedlinePlus: Ovarian Cancer
Cancer Research UK - http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/cancerstats/types/ovary/
Ovarian Cancer Canada http://ovariancanada.org
Cancer Advocacy Coalition of Canada www.canceradvocacycoalition.com
National Breast Cancer Centre, Ovarian Cancer Program http://www.ovariancancerprogram.org.au/
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01.05.2008
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