Sarah Blakely, of Stittsville, Ont., is the recipient of our Volunteer of Distinction Trailblazer Award. 

This award celebrates a volunteer who exemplifies excellence as a trailblazer. Through their dedication, meaningful actions and groundbreaking contributions, the recipient of this award is paving the way for a brighter future for those affected by brain tumours. 

Can you share your connection to the brain tumour community?  

In November 2024, at the age of 46, my brother, Bob, passed away after having been diagnosed with glioblastoma in February 2023.  

He was such a great guy—strong, dependable and always up for an adventure. He prioritized experiencing life. He travelled all over the world, loved sports, watching live music and spending time with friends and family. 

He is the father of two amazing kids, who he loved more than anything in this world. He loved hanging out with them and being silly together.  

When he was diagnosed, it hit us hard. Throughout it all, he maintained his strength and positivity. He was determined to continue living his best life for as long as he could.  

A calming presence, he reminded me to take every day as it comes and that struggles are inevitable in life, but that every setback is experience and strength to help us through the next one. 

In February 2024, my brother and I travelled together with our families to an all-inclusive resort in the Dominican Republic. It was the last trip we took together, but we made so many happy memories there. It is a vacation we’ll never forget. We swam in the waves of the ocean, played soccer on the beach, participated in a family challenge (which we won!), got slimed and ate yummy food, but mostly we just enjoyed slowing down and spending time together. I am so thankful that we had time to make more memories and that we were able to show him how much we loved him and that we know how much he loved us back. 

As this year’s theme for National Volunteer Week is ‘Ignite Volunteerism,’ award winners were asked to answer the following questions with this theme in mind. 

What sparked your decision to volunteer with Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada? 

My brother linked up with Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada shortly after his diagnosis. He was invited by a friend to join their family at the Ottawa Brain Tumour Walk (thanks again to Chris’ loved ones at Team Yippee Happy Liveliness), where he was welcomed warmly, made new friends and broadened his support system.   

I attended the walk to support him and was able to feel the power of spending time with people who share similar experiences. Last year was our first walk without him, but Team Bobby Love came out strong, with our Bobby Love T-shirts and our banner waving with love and pride. 

I like that Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada and the funds raised directly support people affected by brain tumours and research projects. I particularly enjoy reading about the grant recipients and the work they are doing.  

I continue to support Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada in Bob’s honour, to carry on his fight against glioblastoma. He was so much more than his brain cancer but doing what little I can to support gains in brain cancer treatment, makes me feel like I’m still helping him out and making him proud. 

Can you share a remarkable or stand-out volunteering moment? 

My brother loved music. He loved seeing live music, and he loved watching my band play. He came out to so many of our gigs. 

During COVID, I started the Stittsville Front Porch Concerts, an evening of free live music being played throughout the community of Stittsville, a suburb of Ottawa. Bob was there for the first and he never missed a year. He was even there at the last Porchfest before he passed. Even though he was tired, he still showed up for me, set up with a chair at the end of my driveway.   

June 2025 was going to be the first Porchfest without him. I knew it was going to be tough for me. He was so supportive of the project, encouraging people to attend. He was really proud of me for that work.   

So, I reached out to my fellow Porchfest performers and asked if they would mind if we raised money for Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada in honour of my brother. The response was overwhelmingly positive and I’m so grateful for the support my community showed me and my brother. It was a bittersweet day. He was missed, but he was still there.   

Together, the Stittsville Front Porch Concerts raised $9,000 for Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada. During that event, and leading up to it, I had many people reach out to me to let me know how they have been affected by brain tumours. It is nice to know that we are not alone, that we are all working towards the same goal. 

If you are interested in hosting a Porchfest in your own community, I’m happy to share my experiences and lessons learned. Please reach out to Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada and they can connect us. 

What message would you share to help ignite volunteerism in others this year? 

For me, volunteering is all about creating community. We are a part of the brain tumour community. Great communities don’t just happen, they are built by the people within them. 

Showing up and being present is the most important part of community and volunteering is a wonderful way to engage. Acts don’t need to be big. In fact, sometimes, it’s the small acts that make the biggest impacts. It can be as simple as attending an event, showing support through social media or wearing your Hats and Hoodies for Hope.  

When my brother was first diagnosed, I spoke with someone whose brother had passed away from glioblastoma. Just having her tell me she understood what I was feeling and offering her support meant everything. 

On another occasion, I wore my Hoodies for Hope sweatshirt to my son’s basketball game. At the gym, I was approached by a man. He commented on my hoodie and told me that his wife had passed away from glioblastoma in 2020. We took a few minutes to share our stories and experiences, and it was a lovely moment for me. All because I wore my hoodie, and he took the time to say hello. We get so much more than we give when we volunteer—friendship, support and community.