I was diagnosed with bladder cancer 28 years ago at 54. Over the first ten years I underwent aggressive treatments to help prolong my life and keep the bladder cancer in remission. In 2005, the cancer returned and invaded my bladder wall (muscle invasive bladder cancer) which then required bladder removal. Dealing with an ostomy bag is a whole other story which I won’t get into now, but am available to speak to you who are facing and/or dealing with an ostomy.

I clearly remember when I was first diagnosed and couldn’t find another bladder cancer patient to talk to – it was scary and lonely!. At the time there wasn’t a bladder cancer support group in Canada, which I found surprising, since it is the 5th most common cancer. Luckily in the spring of 2009 I was put in touch with another bladder cancer survivor, Jack Moon, Jack and I shared the same vision of starting a Canadian support organization for bladder cancer patients. Together we shared the work, costs and responsibility of founding and building Bladder Cancer Canada. Shortly thereafter Bladder Cancer Canada (BCC) received its charitable status and in September of 2010 we held the first Bladder Cancer Awareness Walk to raise funds to support BCC’s Mission which is to; support of bladder cancer patients, increase awareness, and fund research.

In the past twelve years I have seen, through the efforts of our volunteers and staff, meaningful support of patients and their loved ones fighting the disease, increased awareness and Canadian medical research and clinical trials of new treatments. TOGETHER WE ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE!!

 My DREAM is that my grandchildren - your grandchildren and children never have to face this disease as I and over 80,000 other Canadians are today.

With your support we can reach our 2022 goal to continue our efforts to help make this a better world.

Thank you for sponsoring me.

Sincerely,.
David