Ride to Rid Glioblastoma
Held by Philip Leal
Tour de Cure presented by Wheaton Precious Metals
44 supporters
Riding has always been a passion of mine, instilled in me by my father. This year, Im looking to put that passion to good use. Unfortunately, the choice to participate in this ride came in part due to cancer becoming a real part of my family's life over the past year.
In June of 2023, not a week after the funeral of his mother (my grandmother), and a month before his 60th birthday, my father was admitted to hospital, suffering from headaches. At first, everyone including the doctors felt it was likely caused by recent stress and the grief from the loss of his mother, and so he was sent home with some Advil.
A few days later, I woke up to screams of agony, my father begging for help as the pain was too much. An ambulance ride to the hospital and a few scans later, the worst possible outcome was confirmed: brain tumour.
Within 24 hours, my father was rushed into surgery, and the excellent team at St Michaels Hospital in Toronto had removed as much of the mass as possible while best preserving his brain and ability to function. Diagnostic tests run on the material removed confirmed my father had glioblastoma, something my family would soon learn is an all too common, yet deadly form of cancer. There is currently no known cure. Prognosis: about 18 months to live.
We are a year into this new reality now, and despite the circumstances my dad has soldiered on, still working, still enjoying family time, but with no less than 5 surgeries and countless hours, days and even weeks spent in hospital beds, MRI machines, and all sorts of other medical facilities. While I am forever grateful for the work of my fathers oncology team, who have done their best to ensure he continues to live as normal a life as possible, for as long as possible, and for the immense support that many, but especially my mother, have provided my father during this time, I also wish that none of this was necessary.
I wish my father and mother could enjoy retirement. I wish my dad could more easily care for his sister. Knowing his love for the ocean, I wish he could visit me on the West Coast more often.
I wish I could ride my bike with him just a few more times.
I wish no one ever needed to know the word glioblastoma.
In order to make these wishes come true, however, we must first find a cure. So, for this reason, this year, I choose to ride.
While life has meant living thousands of kilometres apart, I can still use my passion for cycling, instilled in me by my father, to try and help him and all cancer-fighting patients, now and into the future.
In August of 2024 I will be embarking on a cycling challenge the Tour de Cure.
Funds raised through the Tour de Cure will support life-saving research and enhancements to care at BC Cancer, bringing hope to cancer patients in BC and making an impact around the world. An impact to people like my family, and maybe one day yours as well.
This challenge will be hard and it will be long, but it does not compare to the challenge of facing cancer.
I thank everyone for their support, and kindly ask that you consider making a donation gift today. Your donation will help me achieve my fundraising goal AND motivate me in this challenge!
Thank you so much for your support!
