Cancer has shaped my life more than I often talk about publicly.

There are certain people who become steady forces in your life. They aren’t loud. They don’t demand attention. They are simply there — grounding you, quily moving things forward.

And then one day, they’re not.

In the span of six years, I lost two of those forces to blood cancer.

My childhood best friend, Alex Taylor, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and passed away at 23. He had an optimism that felt unshakeable — the kind of person who made the present moment feel full and important. I think of him everytime I open a book or find a loonie on the ground - he was the type of human who would flip it over and leave it for another person to find it. 

His sister Vanessa has built her career helping other families navigate blood cancer. Watching her turn loss into leadership has been quietly powerful. When she asked if I would consider running this campaign, it felt less like an invitation and more like a continuation.

Years after Alex, I lost Bruce Phinney, who was like a godfather to me. He was diagnosed with a rare bone marrow cancer called myelofibrosis. Bruce had a way of showing up exactly when you needed him — often with steak and wine in tow — reminding me that if you take care of yourself first, you can show up for everyone else. You can create community by being the human who always, truly, shows up. 

Bruce and Alex never met. But they shared something powerful: they didn’t just create ripples, they created currents. They moved things forward. They believed in community. They believed in paying it forward. Yes, they believed in thanks and giving back, but they believed in supporting and driving forward more. 

This campaign isn’t about looking back. It’s about continuing what they modeled — optimism, momentum, and showing up for people when it matters.

From March 24 through June 5, I’m running a 10-week fundraising campaign for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada as part of their Visionaries of the Year initiative. The funds raised support research, treatment advances, and direct support for families navigating blood cancers.

Nearly every patient facing a blood cancer diagnosis today has benefited from research LLSC has funded. This work is real. It changes outcomes.

If cancer has touched your life — through loss, survival, or someone you love — you understand this isn’t abstract. It’s personal.

If you believe in showing up for people when it matters, this is one way to do it.

I’m inviting you to stand with me in supporting this work.

The impact of someone doesn’t end when they’re gone. It moves outward.

 This is how we make sure Bruce and Alex’s impact doesn’t end. We carry it forward.

 For more information on the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada, please visit www.bloodcancers.ca.