Jane McNulty-Smith lived a content and blissfully “normal” life in Newmarket, Ont., where she raised two kids, Darryl and Pamela, with her husband, Steve. That would change when she received her own diagnosis of glioblastoma.

Lyndsay Horrigan was getting regular headaches, to the point they were becoming her normal. As an assistant executive housekeeper at a hotel in Edmonton, Alta., and mom to then-four-year-old, Olivia, Lyndsay’s headaches began interrupting her job and her family life.

Dave Fleischer’s symptoms were easy enough to explain away. His eyesight was deteriorating, but then again, most of his family members wore glasses. His hearing was worsening, but hearing loss ran in his family, too.

Sitting in what she calls “the shack,” her home on the beach in Port Stanley, Ont., Mallory (or Mal, as she’s known to those close to her) smiles as she talks about how fortunate she is.

Traci Chambers’ relationship with Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada dates back to 2017, soon after she’d been diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma tumour.

Tracy Leipsic has always lived an active life. A speedskater in her youth, she’s stayed connected with the community as a Speedskating Manitoba board member and an official with speedskating in Canada.