We are profoundly grateful to all who took part in our 2024 Brain Tumour Walk. Whether organizing, fundraising, donating or walking, you made a difference. Along with our incredible community, we’d like to recognize our top team and individual fundraisers, who have been named recipients of this year’s Cup of Hope. Congratulations!

2024’s Team Cup of Hope champion

When Amy Dodge registered Team Dodge for the 2024 Brain Tumour Walk, she and her crew set a goal to be the top fundraising team—a goal they impressively achieved.

“It’s a huge accomplishment,” she says. “I think it’s a testament to how strong our community is. If it weren’t for everything my dad did to give back to the community, I don’t think we would have been able to achieve what we did and see that support back.”

Amy’s dad, Dr. David Dodge, was diagnosed with glioblastoma in June 2023. An anaesthesiologist, Dr. Dodge has been a longtime advocate for cancer research. Participating in bike rallies and other fundraising initiatives, Dr. Dodge instilled in his family a desire to make a difference.

His other children, Michael and Anna, helped to lead Team Dodge, along with his wife, Dr. Susan Skanes.

It was Anna who designed the team’s logo, which was displayed on promotions for the walk and on T-shirts that were sold to boost fundraising efforts.

“My dad wore his T-shirt pretty much every day,” says Amy. “A lot of people bought T-shirts for our walk, too, which was amazing.”

Team Dodge held a two-kilometre walk at Bore View Park in Moncton, N.B. on June 9, 2024, raising $41,441.99. About 200 people participated, and the group enjoyed a social with cake, beverages and golf simulation afterwards—a tribute to one of Dr. Dodge’s favourite hobbies.

“He’s really proud of everything our team did for the Brain Tumour Walk,” says Amy, of her dad. “He’s a fighter and a champion, and we did it for him.”

2024’s Individual Cup of Hope champion

This year’s Individual Cup of Hope goes to the dynamic duo that is Sandra Lisi and Dee Ferlisi, longtime friends and advocates for the brain tumour community.

In June 2016, before Sandra’s surgery on her second chordoma tumour, she decided she wanted to support others facing a brain tumour diagnosis.

“I decided that it was time to help others be as lucky as I have been,” says Sandra. “I’ve been able to raise my family, along with my husband, Adriano, and to lead a fairly normal life, which I am very grateful for.”

Sandra recruited her close friend Dee, and the rest, as they say, is history.

The pair became co-ordinators for the Brain Tumour Walk in Brampton, Ont., carrying on what was established by the Bloom family in memory of their son, David. The Bloom family, along with David, planned Brampton’s first-ever Brain Tumour Walk in 2000, though David sadly passed away 10 days before the event.

The Bloom family’s involvement, along with the dedication of Sandra and Dee, has made this event a success ever since. Sandra and Dee were recognized with a Volunteer of Distinction award in 2020, and now, with this year’s Cup of Hope.

In 2024, Sandra and Dee led a community walk, with their friends, family and supporters joining in, and raised an incredible $15,578.

“Sandra is continually supporting and fundraising, while battling this disease,” Dee says. “She’s had many challenges in her health, including complete loss of sight and recently completing gamma knife radiation at Sunnybrook Hospital. She is a solid rock, as I stand by her and be her support!”

Top Individual Fundraisers

1. Sandra Lisi – $15,578
2. Stacy Hagen – $10,811.30
3. Bill MacQueen – $10,270.45
4. Kristy Foutre – $8,967.95
5. Jeffrey Albaum – $8,359.80

Top Team Fundraisers

1. Team Dodge – $41,441.99
2. WONGSTRONG – $33,070.75
3. Canada Life Cranium Crusaders – $27,924
4. Walking for Will (Whitey) MacQueen – $27,418.64
5. Team Zeus – $20,194.25

We would like to give our sincere thanks to everyone who participated in this year’s Brain Tumour Walk and who supports our mission to spread hope year-round.