What inspired you to start volunteering?

I started out at the Ajax support group as a participant when it began running in 1997, after my sixth craniotomy. I was reluctant to participate, to say the least. But, the support and help I received was so valuable that it was beyond my expectations. I also made many lasting friends.

I became a volunteer because of my own experience as a participant. I learned the benefits of a support group firsthand.

I became a facilitator when our former facilitator left. I feared the dissolution of the group. I wanted to lead the group, but my tenuous health situation made me reluctant to do so. Then, my good, lifetime friend Cindy stepped up to help, and we became co-facilitators.

Volunteers often “wear many hats.” What hats have you worn as a volunteer and can you share how and when you got involved?

• Participated in the Ajax support group (1997–present);
• Facilitated the Ajax support group (2003–March 2024);
• Presented at BTFC Information Day, This is My Story (1998);
• Participated on the Education Committee as an educational consultant for the School Education Kit (2003) and helped brainstorm and write the children’s book, A Friend in Hope (2004–2005);
• Presented at a BTFC facilitator workshop on group dynamics (2015);
• Participated in the Brain Tumour Walk at Sunnybrook Park in Toronto, Ont. (2016);
• Represented BTFC at Whitechurch Pub during the Guinness World Record event (2017);
• Presented at Hearth Place Cancer Centre in Oshawa, Ont. (2019);
• Multiple awareness events in Ajax at the Ajax Public Library and Ajax community centres.

What is your fondest memory of volunteering?

Many of my fondest memories while being a volunteer occurred while facilitating in Ajax. Every year in December, we held a potluck dinner. It was a true potluck—no one ever signed up! Miraculously, throughout the course of our group, there was never a duplicated dish! The food was always wonderful, and the camaraderie that occurred during these events was wonderful to watch and partake in.

Being an open-door group, we often had new people come to these meetings. They were always welcomed with warm smiles and a plateful of food. One year, a young woman, Jenny, came with her mother. She was newly diagnosed and scared. She shared her story and was embraced by the others. She kept coming back each month, and later Jenny became our convenor. Now, I am privileged to call her my friend.

With Brain Cancer Awareness Day and Hats for Hope in mind, what message of hope would you share with others in the brain tumour community?

You are not alone. People want to support you, and if you share your journey with them, they will join you on it. This is not going to be easy, but you can live a good life after your diagnosis.

Stay positive. Positivity is the key to longevity.