Volunteer of the Month Profile
Marjorie Brezina
Kitchener/Waterloo, ON

20-Year Volunteer Exemplifies Compassion and Commitment

In the Kitchener/Waterloo region of Ontario, brain tumour patients and their families have had the good fortune to be led by a compassionate and committed volunteer. Marj Brezina has run the monthly brain tumour support group every month for twenty years. As one of Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada’s Volunteer Support Group Facilitators, Marj helps to ensure brain tumour patients and families to have consistent support on their journey with this life-changing disease. This month, we honour Marj’s longtime commitment to the support group (and the brain tumour community) and how she epitomizes the impact a volunteer can have on individuals.

Marj’s introduction to the brain tumour community came in 1985 when her 13-year-old son was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Marj recalls, "It was during this time that I learned the importance of support," and so she became dedicated to offering her time to support families coping with brain tumours. In fact, Marj was a founding member of the Kitchener/Waterloo support group in 1990. With Marj’s determination, the group has flourished into a vibrant touchstone for the community’s brain tumour survivors, caregivers, families and friends.

As a Volunteer Support Group Facilitator, Marj consistently shows caring and compassion to each group member with frequent friendly phone calls and visits. Support group members often speak about connecting with her encouragement as something that helps them make it through another day.

Now, in addition to her ongoing work with the support group, Marj has taken on the new challenge of raising awareness of childhood brain tumours by trying to get Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada’s storybook, A Friend in Hope into the hands of local teachers. "Doing anything we can to raise awareness about brain tumours is so important for early diagnosis and successful treatment," Marj says. "I’ll shout about pediatric brain tumours from the rooftops if I need to."

Thank you Marj for your dedication, care and kindness to everyone you have met during your 20 years as the Support Group Facilitator for Kitchener/Waterloo. You are a good reason why together we are continuing to improve the quality of life for survivors in Kitchener/Waterloo and Canada.

If you are interested in donating some of your time and talent in order to support the brain tumour community, please contact Jennifer McIntosh, Education and Volunteer Services Officer at
1-800-265-5106, ext. 231 or by e-mail at jmcintosh@braintumour.ca.

Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada needs your help and roles are available in most communities across the country.