Help Lisa raise money

Hi Friends! 

I’m excited to announce that I accepted a new role in July and officially started last week as the Membership and Outreach Coordinator with Gilda’s Toronto!

Gilda’s Toronto offers free cancer support programs to adults living with cancer, as well as support for their children or adult family/friends dealing with the emotional challenges of having a loved one living cancer. They also provide bereavement support for people who have lost a loved one to cancer. 

In 2022, my mother-in-law was diagnosed with breast cancer, and Gilda’s was introduced to me. The team provided me with a space to express my concerns and connected me to valuable resources. Thankfully, my mother-in-law is now two years in remission. Two years after her diagnosis, I now have the opportunity to foster inclusivity, cultural humility, and strengthening community partnerships to expand Gilda’s reach across Toronto and Ontario.

Being part of an organization with a strong mission has always been a priority for me, and just a few days into my new role, I discovered an exciting opportunity to combine two of my passions—running and supporting a cause I care deeply about. 

This October, I’ll be running for Gilda’s Toronto in the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon, ½ Marathon, and 5K. Although I’ve been running regularly for several years, I don’t formally train for races anymore. Instead, I’ll be dedicating one of my runs in October to raising funds for Gilda’s. For every $100 raised, I’ll add 5 kilometers to that run. My start goal was initially to raise $500 (25 kilometres/roughly 15 miles), but just after a few hours of posting, we were 90% to that goal! I'm so amazed. So, I’ll happily keep running as long as my lungs and legs allow me to throughout the month of October, still adding 5 kilometers after every $100 beyond the original goal of $500!

In recent years, with an increase in later-stage cancer diagnoses, more people than ever have sought support from Gilda’s Toronto. Your donation, no matter the amount, ensures that those impacted by cancer can access the emotional, educational, and health-focused resources they need to reduce isolation and cancer-related anxiety.

Thank you so much for your support. If you’d like me to honor someone special—either publicly or privately—during my run, please feel free to message me.