"Esperanza" means Hope

One of the things that has been keeping me busy, but also super excited, is a fundraiser called "Esperanza": A Salsa Fundraising Event & Gala.

My dear boyfriend is doing the Ride to Conquer Cancer on June 11-12th, 2011, and needs a minimum of $2,500 in order to participate. Since both of us love Salsa dancing, we thought we should have a salsa party to help him raise the money.....and that was the birth of "Esperanza"!

We started planning this event while I was still doing chemo treatments, and it has brought me great joy! It was something to look forward to.....to keep my mind busy instead of just lying there feeling sorry for myself. And now I can't believe its almost here. It's just one week away!

The response has been incredible, and we're so happy that so many people have been wanting to support this event, and help us make it a success! Thank you!

I've got my outfit picked out already, and just working on the last minutes details during the next week:)  EXCITED!!!

Venue: The Richmond (Located in Downtown Toronto)
477 Richmond Street, Toronto, ON
Date: May 1, 2011
Time: 5:30pm-12:00am
Cost: $20.00
**Tickets must be purchased in advance

More information can be found at: www.feelsogood.ca/FSG/Esperanza.html

Me in the Media....again

Recently I've been interviewed for a couple things, and I'm pretty happy to be able to share my story.

Glow Magazine:
Glow magazine is helping to promote the Shoppers Drug Mart Weekend to End Women's Cancers (the 2 day 60km walk I'll be doing Sept 10-11, 2011), and they wanted to do an article on a cancer survivor who is a first time walker. Since I had done that CP24 interview before, my contact somehow got passed along to an editor of the magazine. I met up with her to tell my story, and the article should be coming out in the June issue.

Toronto Star
The Toronto Star is doing an article on  young women with breast cancer. They interviewed the founder of Rethink, which is an organization that support young adults concerned about or affected by breast cancer. I attend really fun and interesting monthly get-togethers that they host called "Live Laugh Learn", so I'm known by the team. The Star wanted to interview a young woman affected by breast cancer to get an idea of the issues that we face that older women may not. So they contacted me and asked if I would be willing, and I said "Of course!" This article came out today. Check it out here: http://www.healthzone.ca/health/article/965885

Research Project - Ryerson student
I was also contacted by a Ryerson University student who is doing a journalism project on young women with breast cancer. I guess its a hot topic these days. She's been meeting with a couple of cancer survivors to hear their stories, and get a good idea of what we go through. I was happy to share my story as well.


I am always willing to talk about what I've been through if its going to help increase awareness of the issue and to support a good cause! I kind of feel like if I use my experience for something good, then I didn't go through all of this in vain!