My team
My Story…
Hi everyone!
It is that time of year again - time to hit the pavement for an amazing cause! Many of you very generously supported Gilda's in 2025 when I ran 5k in downtown Toronto to raise funds for this organization that has been instrumental in supporting me through my breast cancer diagnosis! Together we raised $1697!
If you are new here - welcome! Thank you for being here and wanting to learn more and possibly consider supporting Gilda's in some meaningful way! Gilda's Club is an organization that provides free support to members with cancer diagnoses of all ages. I learned about Gilda's many years ago before my own diagnosis and was blown away by the work that they do for people who are going through life with cancer. I had reached out to them shortly after my own diagnosis in October 2024 because I knew I needed and wanted support through it. My first experience with Gilda's was a 20s and 30s Support Group where a group of women came together weekly for a couple of hours for 8 weeks. It was engaging, healing, helpful, special and very comforting to connect with other women experiencing cancer in some way. We laughed, we cried, we shared our experiences and some of the darker sides of this diagnosis with one another, things we just couldn't talk with anyone else about. I will always cherish those 8 weeks and that group of women for being vulnerable and open, supporting, caring and loving! I have participated in virtual yoga classes and writing classes and have since continued taking a virtual zumba class once a week which is a lot of fun! I periodically sign up for their seminars on plant-based nutrition and other wellness topics!
They have been a crucial piece of this journey for me and I feel incredibly grateful and indebted to them for their support! Their facilitators and organizers are very kind and compassionate - I truly only have wonderful things to say about the organization, its mission and those who make their mission a reality for those of us navigating the highs and lows of a cancer diagnosis.
I would love your support this year if that is something you are able to do and if not, sharing Gilda's resources and pages with your network would be amazing and if you know anyone else who has had a cancer diagnosis, perhaps they don't yet know about Gilda's and may need or want some sort of support!
I will be doing something different this year for this run! I will be visiting my family in Scotland while the run is taking place in Toronto so I will be doing my 5k run overseas which is exciting! I won't be running alongside thousands of others like I did last year, but I will still be running for Gilda's and I hope that you will join me in raising funds to support the work being done for individuals, friends and families of those impacted by cancer.
With my deepest gratitude and appreciation,
Nicole <3
Description
Please support me as I run for Gilda’s Toronto in the October 2026 TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon, ½ Marathon and 5K. This year marks a significant milestone – the 25th Anniversary of Gilda’s Toronto providing cancer support programs to adults living with cancer and support for their teens and children. Gilda’s Toronto also provides bereavement support to those who have lost someone to cancer. Cancer is complex. At Gilda’s Toronto, their philosophy is simple: that everyone living with cancer should have a welcoming, supportive and inclusive community to rely on throughout their unique journey. By supporting me, you ensure that individuals and families impacted by cancer continue to receive the emotional, educational and health-focused cancer support to help with cancer related anxiety. In the words of a Gilda’s Toronto participant: “My world fell apart when I was diagnosed with cancer – the Gilda’s Toronto cancer support programs allowed me to get support from others going through a similar life experience and grateful for the support they also provided to my husband and children.” By supporting me, you help Gilda’s Toronto continue to fulfill their vision: “to help people live while living with cancer”. Thank you.
