Val B.

I will never forget that day in Feb 2024 when the doctor said, “it’s confirmed, you have prostate cancer”. Nothing can prepare you for those words.

I was fortunate to have a friend who was a prostate cancer survivor, who also happened to be a volunteer for CanCare. He stood by my side through my journey, answering questions and providing a perspective that only someone who had walked the same path could.

Through his support, the hope that he gave me was so instrumental to my healing and personal survivorship experience that I wanted to pay the gift forward. I signed up as a CanCare volunteer so I could become that survivor by the side to others facing cancer.

CanCare is an incredible organization dedicated to providing hope and healing to the cancer community. It has been a life-changing commitment and personal investment for me, to be a part of something so much larger than myself.

I receive check-in calls from one of my first clients. Our conversations went deep, deeper, and more emotionally raw than your typical chit-chat or interaction, such that our relationship developed on a rare trust level that I seldom have experienced. My reward has been exactly that - making a real personal impact and connection.

To anyone thinking about seeking support from CanCare…. Do it, it will change your life. The support from CanCare can make a significant difference in your cancer journey, and volunteering offers a unique opportunity to positively impact the lives of others while enriching your own.

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My words to pass along to anyone facing cancer… A survivor friend once told me to find the gift within the cancer journey. Initially, I thought he was talking crazy, but over time, I realized how insightful he was. Cancer has a way of clarifying what is truly important in life, helping you to make a commitment to the future with a newfound perspective.

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