Survivors of both prostate and breast cancer from across the country marked National Cancer Survivors Day by talking about bone health awareness.
According to a press release, the annual celebration, held by the Canadian Cancer Survivor Network earlier this year, is a "celebration of life" for cancer survivors and their friends and families. Survivors from B.C., Alberta and Ontario marked the occasion with five works of art, specially created by local artists from each province, to represent the survivors, or those still battling cancer, and their stories. The event was to encourage other survivors to talk to their doctors about protecting their bones.
The cancer journey story of Robert Pellatt, a prostate cancer survivor from North Vancouver was unveiled in a one-of-a-kind work of art created by Vancouver artist Rachael Stableford who has her own connections to cancer.
The piece was unveiled in Robson Square in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery.
The Canadian Cancer Survivor Network is a national organization representing patients, survivors and their loved ones affected by cancer. The network provides education towards the public and policy makers about the financial, emotional and physical costs associated with cancer. bonehealthincancer.ca
A young North Vancouver boy is making strides to stop cancer one hair at a time. Nick Rutledge, an 11-year-old Canyon Heights elementary student, together with his friend Misko, spent the last year and a half growing their hair for cancer patient wigs. Starting in 2011, Rutledge began growing his hair out and by the summer of 2012 decided to continue when his aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer. Rutledge's stepmother Sally was also diagnosed with cancer, and so he told her she could have his hair. Before she went in for surgery and chemo treatment, both Sally and Nick had their hair cut for cancer patient wigs.
This was not the first time Rutledge had witnessed cancer in his family. His father, Ross, was also diagnosed with cancer. The two-time Olympic field hockey player died from stomach cancer in 2004, mere weeks after Rutledge lost his grandmother to the disease. Rutledge was only two years of age. The Ambleside field hockey turf was named in his father's honour after his training in West Vancouver and time as a coach for the girls' teams.
Rutledge is collecting donations for the Canadian Cancer Society through bighonkinheadshave.ca. He has raised more than $3,000 to date.
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