Dare to Dream
Racerchick
Deborah Landry is riding her motorcycle across
Canada to raise awareness and funds for
Ovarian Cancer Research
In an effort to raise
national awareness and support for ovarian
cancer research, education and patient
outreach, one ambitious female motorcyclist is
taking to the road across Canada to spread the
message. Starting at Princess Margaret
Hospital in Toronto on June 14, 2003, Deborah
Landry begins the “Dare to Dream” for ovarian
cancer event, a cross-country motorcycle ride
to raise much needed funds for ovarian cancer
research, treatment and education programs.
Riding a Honda 1800
motorcycle and packed with a tent, Ms. Landry
will travel 17,795 kilometers toward achieving
her goal of raising $1,000,000 for ovarian
cancer research and education programs on a
shoestring budget. Ms. Landry’s journey will
take her from coast to coast with scheduled
stops in Fredericton, Moncton, Halifax, St.
John’s, Quebec City, Winnipeg, Regina,
Edmonton and Vancouver as well as smaller
communities such as Pictou, Baddeck, Pembroke,
Kamloops and Collingwood where she hopes to
speak with oncologists and community groups
about the importance of raising awareness of
ovarian cancer and supporting ovarian cancer
research, education and patient support
programs. The ride concludes on September 6,
with Ms. Landry’s return to Toronto.
As a unified effort
involving ovarian cancer women nationwide and
cancer centers across Canada, Ms. Landry will
work collaboratively with them to achieve the
goal by collecting pledges along the route as
well as online. Her inspiration for the event
came after learning that two close friends
were diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Their
courageous efforts in fighting the disease
resulted in her creation of the “Dare to
Dream” for ovarian cancer event.
The strength of this
endeavor comes from the significant support
received from women battling ovarian cancer,
their friends and families. Many of these
women are living with ovarian cancer and
presently undergoing chemotherapy treatments.
They want to give back to their hospitals and
gynecologic oncologists. This is their way of
saying thank you.
Currently, there is no
standardized screening mechanism for ovarian
cancer. The most urgent need is to develop a
reliable early detection test. Identifying the
disease early on is key to the patient’s
survival rate, however, 75% of women will not
be diagnosed until it has proceeded to the
advanced stages.
As a result, ovarian
cancer kills more Canadian women each year
than all other gynecological malignancies
combined.
Princess Margaret
Hospital’s Gynecologic and Ovarian Cancer
Program is the most comprehensive in Canada.
It specializes in surgical oncology, radiation
oncology and systemic therapy. Promising new
research continues to develop, but needs
continued support in order to speed the
process.
The Princess Margaret
Hospital Foundation at University Health
Network raises funds for research, education
and the enhancement of patient care at
Princess Margaret Hospital and its research
arm, the Ontario Cancer Institute. UHN brings
together the innovation, talent and resources
needed to achieve global impact and provide
exemplary patient care, research and
education. UHN and its partner Foundations,
Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation,
the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation and
the Arthritis & Autoimmunity Research Centre
Foundation, have recently embarked on a $400
million fund raising campaign. The PMH
Foundation is committed to raising $147
million toward this goal. Together We Make
Life Better. For more information please visit
us at
www.uhn.ca.
For more
information about joining the Dare to Dream
initiative, to make a pledge online or
to follow Ms. Landry’s journey, visit:
www.daretodreamforovariancancer.ca
Many say we can't do this
because Ovarian Cancer does not have the
survivors to accomplish this task - Do you
Dare to Dream with us?
Meet Deborah
Landry: Motorcyclist riding across Canada to
raise awareness of Ovarian Cancer
When Deborah Landry was
witness to the devastating effects of ovarian
cancer on two of the most special people she
knew, Deborah was compelled to do something
daring in the fight against ovarian cancer.
Deborah, like most of the
public, admits that she had never heard of
ovarian cancer but quickly learned about the
disease when her closest friend’s mother –
Edith Grech - lost her courageous battle to
ovarian cancer last year. Deborah thought her
encounter with the deadly disease was over,
but soon discovered, one of her best friends
and the daughter of Edith - Kim Perkins - was
also diagnosed and is presently battling
ovarian cancer. Deborah promised herself she
would raise awareness and funds for ovarian
cancer education, patient outreach and
research so that one day ovarian cancer will
no longer haunt women. It was this strong
conviction that led to the Dare to Dream for
ovarian cancer event.
After Edith Grech died
and then when Kim was diagnosed, Deborah
thought of doing a weekend run to raise
awareness and funds in support of ovarian
cancer. But a weekend did not seem enough.
Deborah remembered Terry Fox and what he did
for cancer awareness and all one leg! She
decided, on her Honda 1800 motorcycle, she
would travel across the country in support of
ovarian cancer research, education and patient
outreach.
"I want to do this for
all ovarian cancer women”, says Deborah. “
Ovarian Cancer is a lethal woman's cancer! It
does not care whether you are rich, poor,
black, white or purple stripes. Edith’s fatal
struggle with ovarian cancer, and Kim’s
suffering is beyond words, a death from
ovarian cancer is not for the meek or mild and
this experience will stay with me forever.”
In an attempt to learn
more about ovarian cancer, Deborah
became frustrated with the lack of information
available on the disease. Even more shocking,
was when Deborah learned that there is no
standard test for early detection and most
cases are diagnosed in the advanced stages of
ovarian cancer.
To Deborah, that’s just not acceptable, and
she hopes to change all this starting June 14,
2003 when the Dare to Dream for ovarian cancer
event officially rides off.
Deborah Landry is a member of the organization
'Women on Wheels', whose goal is to unite all
women and family member motorcycle enthusiasts
for recreation, education, mutual support,
recognition, and to promote a positive image
of motorcycling
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