September is often viewed as a time of change and of starting something new. ItB次元官网网址檚 also cancer awareness month. This September, Vancouver IslandB次元官网网址檚 is doing what it started back in 1998 B次元官网网址� helping to create change in the lives of those dealing with childhood cancer, one turn of the pedals at a time.
Fighting the battles to win the war
Steve WebbB次元官网网址檚 personal connection to the Tour reaches way back to its beginnings and his own sonB次元官网网址檚 cancer battle. Matt was just shy of his fourth birthday when in February 1996, a seemingly minor medical issue brought a cancer diagnosis and a life-changing battle with BurkittB次元官网网址檚 lymphoma.
Treatment for this aggressive cancer requires aggressive chemo, incredibly hard on a young, developing body. While the chemo can destroy the cancer, it can do a lot of damage to still-growing organs, and unfortunately for Matt, other complications came with treatment.
A perforated bowel led to a secondary staph infection that attacked his heart, and more chemo, as scheduled, was going to be too much for his tiny body.
Yet timing is everything, they say. At the time, new information about treatment of BurkittB次元官网网址檚 lymphoma had come to light through the fight against AIDS. With the latest research in hand, the doctors felt the cancer was beaten and they could forego the scheduled chemo.
Matt won not only that battle but the war B次元官网网址� he was finally on the road to recovery.
Paying it forward
At age five, and finally sporting a full head of curls, Matt and Steve came across Martin Pepper and the Cops for Cancer head shave. Matt decided there and then to shave his head in front of the crowd to help raise money to help in the fight against cancer. Like his son, Steve wanted to do what he could too, and so the whole family got involved with the first Tour de Rock.
This unique-to-Vancouver Island fundraiser unites each rider with a child fighting cancer. Money raised goes to research to find cures and to finding better ways to treat the disease B次元官网网址� the same kind of research that had led MattB次元官网网址檚 doctors to stop his treatment B次元官网网址渆arlyB次元官网网址� meaning his young body could begin to recover. B次元官网网址淚t saved his life,B次元官网网址� Steve says simply.
Money raised also goes towards , another important part of the picture for kids dealing with scars, hair loss and feeling B次元官网网址渄ifferent.B次元官网网址�
Steve says that for Matt, the Tour and Camp Goodtimes eclipsed Christmas and birthdays on the calendar. B次元官网网址淚t was amazing how kids went from hiding their baldness or their surgery scars at the beginning of the week to being comfortable with themselves B次元官网网址� they gained confidence,B次元官网网址� he says.
Steve knows that sharing their experience is important for other families fighting similar battles. Their family has been involved with the Tour de Rock since the start and Steve is now on the Tour de Rock Steering Committee, linking each rider with a family to ride for. B次元官网网址淓veryone has a really good reason for wanting to ride for the kids,B次元官网网址� he says.
Continuing what he had started at five, 19-year-old Matt was a guest rider with the Tour in 2012, cycling the full length of Vancouver Island, sharing his story as a guest speaker along the way. HeB次元官网网址檚 now married and beginning his career, his whole life ahead of him.
Everyone knows someone who had fought cancer or is currently. For families with children with cancer, the fight is unimaginably hard. today to help more kids like Matt.
The rolls out Monday, Sept. 20 in Port Alice. to find out when theyB次元官网网址檒l be coming through your community.
