Help Anthony raise money

Dear all,

For the past years, I have been training relentlessly for Half Marathons and Triathlons. It is thus with real pleasure that I have decided to register for the Virtual 2021 Scotiabank Vancouver Threepeat. The Threepeat consists of 3 different races, i.e. a Half Marathon (21.1K), a 10K and a 5K, that I will be completing before July 5th. 

While training for these races and undertaking this challenge, I have decided to raise both funds and awareness for Ovarian Cancer Canada. 

Thousands of women are living with ovarian cancer in Canada. It is estimated that this year, 3100 Canadian women will be newly diagnosed with this disease. Earlier detection of ovarian cancer is associated with higher rates of survival. However, while a number of screening tests exist, ovarian cancer tends to be detected at a late stage (after significant invasion of surrounding tissues and/or after distant metastases) and thus often carries out a poor prognosis. In Canada, the 5-year net survival for ovarian cancer is 45%, meaning that only about 45% of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer will survive for at least 5 years.

Treatment modalities most commonly include surgery and chemotherapy, while some patients may also be candidates for hormonal or targeted therapy. The type of treatment selected depends on the stage, the grade and the type of ovarian cancer. Treatment can often be particularly draining, both physically and psychologically. Ovarian cancer recurrence (cancer coming back after it has been treated) is also common, and women must have multiple follow-up appointments in the first 5 years after treatment, and then come to yearly appointments. Due to its high rate of recurrence, ovarian cancer is sometimes referred to as a chronic disease, as the treatment and the monitoring can be ongoing for many years.

It goes without saying that ovarian cancer is a grueling disease and one that still bears a significantly high burden of mortality and morbidity. It importantly hinders the quality of life of thousand of Canadian women and their loved ones. Some of my family members have won their battle against ovarian cancer, and it truly was a privilege to witness their strength and their resolution as they defeated this grinding disease. They serve as a testimony of resilience and are role models for people surrounding them.

Ovarian Cancer Canada champions the health and wellbeing of women with ovarian cancer and others at risk of this disease while advancing research to save lives. As the only registered Canadian charity solely dedicated to overcoming ovarian cancer, the organization provides leadership in research, advocacy, and support, so that women live fuller, better, longer lives.

With this fundraiser, I am aiming to humbly contribute to Ovarian Cancer Canada’s mission and to help improve outcomes of women with ovarian cancer in Canada. I realize it is a small gesture, and I sincerely hope I will have the opportunity to more directly help women with ovarian cancer in my future career. Thank you for visiting my fundraiser page, and thank you in advance for your donation! Please contact me if you have any questions.

Email: anthony.debay@mail.mcgill.ca

* Donations of $20 or more are eligible for tax receipts that will be sent by email * 

References:

Canadian Cancer Statistics, 2020

Canadian Cancer Society, 2020

Ovarian Cancer Canada, 2020