| Date | Saturday May 31st, 2008 |
| Start Time | 8 am |
2006 Event Information - Spokesperson's Stories
| Why have they become involved in Yard Sale for the Cure |
| Rachael's story | |
At first when I thought about being the spokesperson for YSC I was nervous – who would want to listen to me? Wouldn’t it be better to have a celebrity? Turns out that lots of people want to listen to a “normal” person who lives in their neighbourhood. |
| Jen's story | |
| I heard about YSC one day at the end of a bar when Andrew was telling someone else about it. My mother had been going through breast cancer treatments and I had to get involved to help. I told Andrew that night that I wanted to help and he thanked me. I called him the next day and made sure he knew I really meant what I said…put me to work! The experience gave me a lot of exposure to new and different people and their thinking and has even been part of the inspiration that has started my new company “Shifting Momentum”. |
| Kelly's story | |
| I'm involved in YSC because too many people close to me have had to 'fight the battle' against cancer: my grandparents, my dad, my father-in-law, my girl-friend and now my best friend. Not all of them won. I don't want anymore people to lose. |
| Bob's story | |
| Uninvited and unannounced, cancer arrived at our door one day in December 1999. It just showed up in my father as Non Hodgkins Lymphoma - not the prostate cancer that took his father and that he had been diligent in guarding against. He was an otherwise extremely healthy individual who left this physical earth two years after retiring. That's why our family have one charity - the fight against cancer. An equally uninvited guest showed up at the door of our very good friends Rachael and Andrew, not long after our own involvement. Clearly we were going to be engaged in the fight. Cancer has knocked on too many doors in our lives, we'd rather it stopped knocking. So we're going to stop it. |
| Andrew's story | |
| Someone recently said to me that they wished life didn’t have to “kick you quite so hard in the head” to get you to truly listen. Well Rachael’s breast cancer caught my attention alright and my short take so far on “life with cause” has been highly rewarding. The best analogy for me is to equate being involved in the cause to that feeling you get when you’ve given the perfect gift to someone. It’s so pleasing and so totally different from the wonderful feeling of getting the perfect gift. Having lived primarily with “the getting” half of that equation, I’ve come to realize that I was missing out on a lot. I’ve also found that the people we’ve met who are involved in cause are wired a little bit differently. They have more energy, seem to accomplish more and they are just great to do things with. They seem to be very successful at what they do AND happy…an interesting combination. |
| Kari Lynn's story | |
| She was my confidante, friend and mentor – she was my Aunt, and she battled cancer for almost 20 years. She finally succumbed at the young age of 57. My grandparents were even younger than that when they passed away from cancer. My mother, in her 60’s, is thankful every year, knowing she has passed their lifetime milestones. My family is my inspiration in donating to cancer related charities. On a lighter note, I’m a self-proclaimed pack-rat. Because of this, I faithfully host an annual yard sale. I’ve finally learned to purge! When I heard of the Yard Sale for the Cure, I couldn’t believe my luck. Two things I am most passionate about combined into one great event! Contributing more money to cancer research / treatment while at the same time getting rid of my clutter… It doesn’t get any better than that! |
| Kelly Kenny's story | |
| I know a wonderful woman who is in the prime of her life and has everything – a beautiful 5 year old daughter, a loving husband, brothers and sisters and parents she is close with, a roof over her head in an amazing community, a successful career, you name it. She also has cancer. It started with breast cancer 2 ½ years ago and now it has spread to her brain and her lungs. This courageous woman has been through more treatments then you can shake a stick at and still she smiles and perseveres. We must find a way to beat this disease so that her daughter and our daughters will never have to cut short the prime of their lives. That’s why I’m involved. |
| Kathy Calverley's story | |
Cancer runs in my family but breast cancer itself was a new one for us. As it is for anyone, it was devastating to my family, my friends and me. With a newborn and a toddler at home, I really didn't have time to be sick. Most days, that's the attitude I took and during the bad times, family and friends were always there to pick up the pieces. Thanks to them, I am a Survivor and eager to do my part in helping others become Survivors too. I remember the day Andrew called and told me about Yard Sale for the Cure. I was sitting on my backyard deck enjoying the sunshine and thinking "how much sense does this make?" and "why hasn't someone done this before?" I was so excited for Andrew & Rachael and instantly told Andrew to keep me in mind WHEN (there was no 'IF') they hit Edmonton. That day has come and I'm honoured to be a part of YSC to raise money for breast cancer research and treatment. |
| Joanne Stevenson’s story | |
When my friends Carolyn and Mike asked me join their team for YSC I was honored and excited. As a two time cancer survivor I am anxious to assist in a creative event such as YSC which helps to raise money for cancer research and to build awareness. Each and every one of us will be touched by cancer in one way or another. Because of cancer research and medical advances I am one of the lucky ones that is still here. I get to see my boys grow. I get to share the love and laughter of being with family and friends. I get to hear the birds sing. I get to smell the spring air. I get another chance. A chance to help make a difference. By participating in YSC I am helping them bring hope to others. |
| Shelly's story | |
Last summer I was alerted to breast cancer after noticing a lump. I went through a series of tests and examinations; learned a lot more of my family history with the disease and thankfully have come out of the experience with a clean bill of health and far greater awareness. I wanted to get involved with Yard Sale for the Cure because of the community involvement and the interest in helping out with something that is close to family and friends. |
| Christy’s story | |
After a 22 year fight against breast cancer, Christy Teasdale’s mother, June Melnik, passed away in September 2003. Although you never stop grieving inside for the loss of a loved one, Christy knew that helping to raise funds to support those working to find a cure for breast cancer would be the best external tribute that she could make to her mother’s memory. And, as a mother of 2 daughters, a sister, a niece and a friend, it would also help to build a future where no other loved ones will have to hear the devastating words that they have breast cancer. Christy is a volunteer with the Ontario Chapter of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation as a member of their Communications Task force. This year will mark the 3rd year that she has raised funds and participated in both the Run for the Cure and the 60km Weekend to End Breast Cancer supporting research and patient care. And, to launch the year, this May will be Christy’s inaugural stretch as the west end spokesperson for The Yard Sale for the Cure that is to be held on Saturday May 27th in yards across Ontario and Alberta. It is only through involvement and commitment that we can truly make a difference. |
| John’s story | |
I wanted to get involved in Yard Sale for the Cure to help make a difference in the lives of those who are currently battling breast cancer. I've known a few remarkable women who have battled the disease and I've always been amazed at their resolve. I truly admired their spirit as they endured even the toughest days of treatment. I think that spirit is captured in this unique community event. What I love about Yard Sale for the Cure is that it brings together the community to fight the cause while also building upon that neighborhood spirit among survivors, friends, and family. I am grateful for the opportunity to get involved in such a great cause and I'm looking forward to getting involved with the Peterborough community to help fund the fight against breast cancer. |
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