My brother was a generous, funny caring person. He was the only person that could make me laugh without saying a word, just with body language or a look. We shared a beautiful brother/sister bond and I miss him terribly, each and every day. We lost him to Multiple Myeloma in 2012. My parents moved to B.C. where he was living, to help him while he was sick and in 2009, at 77 years, Dad began to walk to raise funds for blood cancers.
Five years to the day we lost my brother, Dad was diagnosed with Lymphoma.
He kept walking. I walked with him, and Mom came along too, we were there as company for him. His pace slowed down, but never his determination!
The last time that I walked with him, we were slow, but it was a gorgeous morning and we admired how sparkly the dew looked on the flowers along the lakeshore of Lake Nippissing in North Bay. I asked Dad how he was feeling at one point and he told me his feet really were hurting and he was always finding it painful to walk, but that he had to keep doing it!
Dad was very passionate about completing this walk every year until 2018. He raised over $10,000.
In 2019, he was unable to do the walk, due to his health.
Light The Night brings communities across Canada together for one magical evening to share stories, remember loved ones lost and pay tribute to our heroes, bringing light, love and hope to dispel the darkness of blood cancers.
I'm continuing to walk in his name to continue to raise funds for blood cancers.