Running for Emma and friends
Donation protected
Hello all
This is slightly out of character for me to set up a fundraiser let along set several goals to hit it, but sometimes something comes up that hits you hard and means more to you then had ever imagined. Don't get me wrong, I am the first to show up at a fundraiser (especially if they are serving food and wine!) and im always happy to donate money, but I am never on the other end hitting up friends and family for their support. It quite honestly makes me very uncomfortable asking anyone for help or support but this isn't about me, its about helping out a friend who would do the same for me or my family in a heartbeat...
6 months ago a very close friend of mine (Emma) was feeling "off" the typical symptoms of feeling run down with a small dose of chest pain. She popped into a clinic and was told it was nothing, no need for follow up and to carry on. Emma being a massage therapist knew it was something and that an x-ray would probably be the best best. So after seeing her family doctor and following through with x-rays, she was suddenly diagnose with rare form of breast cancer already at an advanced stage, the type you would see in somebody in their 60's+ not someone in their mid 30's. Within about 2 weeks she was scheduled in for a double mastectomy, 6 months of aggressive chemo, 6 months of radiation, and 3 more surgeries to follow. This hit everyone like a ton of bricks, someone who appeared so young and healthy was now on a very very long road fighting cancer.
The double mastectomy took place in December and although it went well, they found out that the cancer was already spreading to other parts of her body and her lymph nodes. They removed as much as possible but another surgery to deal with the lymph nodes will most likely take place at a later date when she is healthy enough to go under the knife again. Chemotherapy began in January and 2 doses are under her belt, many more to go. She stared to show the terribly symptoms of chemo after the first treatment, constant nausea and hair loss but she is taking it day by day and staying positive.
Emma is a self-employeed registered massage therapist and a single mother, so financially there is a lot of stress being told you can not work and that she most likely will not be able to return to massaging for years due to the physical strain of the job. Being self-employeed she is not eligible for EI or any other type of long term disability insurance. My goal is to raise funds to help her out along this long road, all I want is for her to focus on beating cancer and not the day to day financial stress of being unemployed and sick.
I made a promise to Emma back in December before she went in for surgery that I would be be suffering through the next 6 months just like she was in hopes of raising money for her. The only thing i could think of that could even come close to chemotherapy was being outdoors running throughout the winter in Calgary. I signed myself up for 4 half marathons, a full marathon and a relay for life, and started my training right away as I know I had a long ways to go. I strapped on my nikes and started putting them to the snow, ice, and pavement. I have been running 3 days a week as well as spinning or weight training 4 days a week. My schedule keeps getting bigger but so far it is as follows:
-March 8th, Half Marathon - San Diego, CA
-April 26th, Half Marathon - Calgary, AB
-May 3rd, Full Marathon - Vancouver, BC (Day after BBQ at the Swenson's)
-May 17th, Half Marathon - Santa Cruz, CA
- June 12th, Relay for life, Vancouver BC
- July + Aug - TBD :) (up for suggestions or challenges! :)
If you have it in you to make a small donation, you can do so on my site listed below. I really have enjoyed doing this on behalf of Emma but Breast Cancer is something that so many of our close friends have encountered recently and I am doing this for them as well. Kevin lost his mother many years ago to breast cancer, and Brittany has also encountered her own scares (fortunately in the early stages). So this is for them, our friends (you know who you are :)), and anyone who has had to encounter or watch someone battle this this terrible form of Cancer. Kevin and I will be making our own tbd donation to the Vancouver Cancer foundation over the next 6 months through a few small fundraisers, without research we would not have survivors. If you would prefer to donate to the Vancouver Cancer Society, please see or email me and we would be more happy to make a donation on your behalf.
I am on my way to San Diego now :)
Best regards and MANY thanks!!
Tracy Swenson
This is slightly out of character for me to set up a fundraiser let along set several goals to hit it, but sometimes something comes up that hits you hard and means more to you then had ever imagined. Don't get me wrong, I am the first to show up at a fundraiser (especially if they are serving food and wine!) and im always happy to donate money, but I am never on the other end hitting up friends and family for their support. It quite honestly makes me very uncomfortable asking anyone for help or support but this isn't about me, its about helping out a friend who would do the same for me or my family in a heartbeat...
6 months ago a very close friend of mine (Emma) was feeling "off" the typical symptoms of feeling run down with a small dose of chest pain. She popped into a clinic and was told it was nothing, no need for follow up and to carry on. Emma being a massage therapist knew it was something and that an x-ray would probably be the best best. So after seeing her family doctor and following through with x-rays, she was suddenly diagnose with rare form of breast cancer already at an advanced stage, the type you would see in somebody in their 60's+ not someone in their mid 30's. Within about 2 weeks she was scheduled in for a double mastectomy, 6 months of aggressive chemo, 6 months of radiation, and 3 more surgeries to follow. This hit everyone like a ton of bricks, someone who appeared so young and healthy was now on a very very long road fighting cancer.
The double mastectomy took place in December and although it went well, they found out that the cancer was already spreading to other parts of her body and her lymph nodes. They removed as much as possible but another surgery to deal with the lymph nodes will most likely take place at a later date when she is healthy enough to go under the knife again. Chemotherapy began in January and 2 doses are under her belt, many more to go. She stared to show the terribly symptoms of chemo after the first treatment, constant nausea and hair loss but she is taking it day by day and staying positive.
Emma is a self-employeed registered massage therapist and a single mother, so financially there is a lot of stress being told you can not work and that she most likely will not be able to return to massaging for years due to the physical strain of the job. Being self-employeed she is not eligible for EI or any other type of long term disability insurance. My goal is to raise funds to help her out along this long road, all I want is for her to focus on beating cancer and not the day to day financial stress of being unemployed and sick.
I made a promise to Emma back in December before she went in for surgery that I would be be suffering through the next 6 months just like she was in hopes of raising money for her. The only thing i could think of that could even come close to chemotherapy was being outdoors running throughout the winter in Calgary. I signed myself up for 4 half marathons, a full marathon and a relay for life, and started my training right away as I know I had a long ways to go. I strapped on my nikes and started putting them to the snow, ice, and pavement. I have been running 3 days a week as well as spinning or weight training 4 days a week. My schedule keeps getting bigger but so far it is as follows:
-March 8th, Half Marathon - San Diego, CA
-April 26th, Half Marathon - Calgary, AB
-May 3rd, Full Marathon - Vancouver, BC (Day after BBQ at the Swenson's)
-May 17th, Half Marathon - Santa Cruz, CA
- June 12th, Relay for life, Vancouver BC
- July + Aug - TBD :) (up for suggestions or challenges! :)
If you have it in you to make a small donation, you can do so on my site listed below. I really have enjoyed doing this on behalf of Emma but Breast Cancer is something that so many of our close friends have encountered recently and I am doing this for them as well. Kevin lost his mother many years ago to breast cancer, and Brittany has also encountered her own scares (fortunately in the early stages). So this is for them, our friends (you know who you are :)), and anyone who has had to encounter or watch someone battle this this terrible form of Cancer. Kevin and I will be making our own tbd donation to the Vancouver Cancer foundation over the next 6 months through a few small fundraisers, without research we would not have survivors. If you would prefer to donate to the Vancouver Cancer Society, please see or email me and we would be more happy to make a donation on your behalf.
I am on my way to San Diego now :)
Best regards and MANY thanks!!
Tracy Swenson
Organizer
Tracy Swenson
Organizer