Not all superheroes wear capes

Jun 12, 2014

by Bob Brooks

If you look closely, you can see them everywhere. At work, sitting in a park, wandering the aisles in the corner store. They are superheroes in disguise, no capes, no flashy costumes. They look just like you and I do. These are the people who are touched by cancer, fighters, loved ones and supporters. The are you and I, and we are all superheroes.

Everyone has a story about how this awful disease has touched our lives. For some of us, the news has hit us directly at home and instantly, our lives are changed forever. From now on, everything we do will revolve around this disease and what we can do to help our loved one through it. Anger, fear and uncertainty become huge emotions to you now, but what can you do? Who can you talk to? Who would ever understand what you are going through?

Unfortunately, you are not the only one whose life has just turned upside down. Every day thousands of people find themselves in the same situation and feel that they are all alone. Thankfully, there are agencies out there like the Canadian Cancer Society, who provide the help that you need at this time in your life.

As well as being the largest national funder of cancer research, the Canadian Cancer Society also provides cancer fighters, survivors and their caregivers with valuable tools that they can use to help them in their battle against this disease. They provide services like the Cancer Information Service, which allows you to ask questions about all types of cancers, their testing and treatment and any other questions you may have about the disease and what it means. As well, there is the Peer Support Service, which allows you to speak to someone, one on one, who has been where you are now and can offer you personal support and some strategies for coping that have worked for them and may help you.

They also offer the cancerconnection.ca where you can read about other people's struggles with cancer and talk to them online, building supportive relationships and helping each other through this scary time through sharing their experiences.

And possibly, the most essential service the Canadian Cancer Society offers to people touched by cancer is the Community Services Locator. This service allows you to get in touch with the various funded programs in the area that will help you the most in your time of need. Programs such as a driver that can take you to doctor and therapeutic appointments, personal support groups and in some cases, financial and travel help to ease your mind during your battle.

All of these programs and the millions of dollars spent on cancer research every year all come from one place, from you. Through fundraisers like the Relay for Life – North and Central Frontenac, the Canadian Cancer Society raises the money that it needs to provide these services free of charge to the people who require them and without the funds raised by you, none of this would be possible.

On Friday, June 20, join other superheroes like yourself at the Parham Fairgrounds to Celebrate, Remember and Fight Back at the 2014 Relay for Life, and together, we can make cancer history. To register, please contact Christine Teal at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.