Canadian Cancer Society Relay for Life Chairman Wins Battles
Good afternoon, my name is Lawrence Badanai and I am this years Canadian Cancer Society Relay for Life Chairman.
Life ever after. Sounds like a fairy tale. I am the beginning of that part of life that is redefined forever. It has been several months since my last chemo treatment. My scars are showing new colours as they fade into the landscape of my body. Now, as I manage with the fact that
my doctor appointments are spreading further apart, I am on that other side of life.
I have learned that a part of healing is sharing and exposing one self. Being vulnerable has offered me the opportunity to meet many supportive people and know we all go through some of these moments. Risk is a part of loving and embracing life!
In 2008 I discovered a lump on my right testicle and I could tell it was definitely not ordinary. Now we all tend to think we’re invincible. Our egos don’t want to believe we could possibly have something wrong with ourselves. That’s when the brain pops in and says things like, “Oh, maybe it’s nothing. Maybe it’ll go away. I’m too young for this...” And eventually I had enough common sense to listen to my family and went to see a doctor.
An ultrasound determined that the lump was in fact abnormal. Next followed an urologist that told me all signs point to cancer. Now, they don’t really give you a choice with this type of cancer, and the next step is removal of the entire thing.
Since I didn’t exactly have a choice I said, “Sign me up! Let’s get this out!” I was hoping that if it were cancer, then it would be caught early enough. Indeed I was facing the best case and they were confident that the situation was handled nicely and I joined a surveillance plan after surgery.
I’ve never hated the fact that I had cancer. It has now become a part of who I am. But at that time in my life, I was not ready to share and embrace that experience with others. I simply put my life back on track... graduated that spring and got married to my wife Candi come summer.
However, this tale is far from finished, as last winter I learned that cancer decided to schedule another dual. A scan showed that it had quickly returned and lit my body up like a Christmas tree. The doctors worked swiftly and I was sent back and forth to Toronto for consultations and a second surgery to remove my abdominal lymph nodes. The Canadian Cancer Society quickly stepped in and assisted my wife and I with our travel arrangements and accommodations.
Once discharged from the hospital I returned home to Thunder Bay to recover. My doctor then signed me up for series of chemotherapy cocktails. When I wasn’t being kept company by friends and family at the hospital, there was always a smiling volunteer from the Canadian Cancer Society. I also enjoyed the tea and toast that would come wheeling by my chair every few hours.
Today, I am in remission. I have survived two successful battles with cancer. We all face challenges in life and its how we deal with those challenges that define who we are. This has definitely made me a stronger person. I learnt that you never know what life is going to throw at you, but no matter what, you can overcome it and make it positive. I also told myself that somehow I’d have to use this experience as something positive. Instead of asking “Why me?” I asked,
“What can I do with this?”
The Canadian Cancer Society was there for me when I needed someone. I learned later that all those fine ladies and gentlemen were volunteers who also were giving back. With that I took a page from my late father’s manifesto of “Service above self” and followed suit. Today I stand here as a member of a wonderful leadership committee for the Relay for Life. It is a team of many talented and dedicated volunteers that are working hard to bring our event to life. Thank you to all of you who are working steadily to make our event a success.
Relay for Life is more than just a fundraiser. It is an opportunity to get together and celebrate, remember and fight back with family and friends. This will be my first attendance at a Relay for Life. I am personally looking forward to enjoying this fun and inspirational 12-hour overnight event.
This year’s Relay for Life takes place on June 15th at the Fort William Historical Park. Last year we raised over $155,000 dollars. And with the support of fighters like you I know that we can reach our 2012 goal of $200,000. We’d also like to see 200 survivors walking the Survivors’ Victory Lap. I am especially looking forward to the Luminary Ceremony and seeing hundreds of bags around the track with your messages beautifully decorated on them. This year we’d love to see 3000 of those
luminaries lighting our way.
We need to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer and those that were there with us during those dark moments. We need to remember those loved ones lost to it. I myself never knew my grandmother as she died of cancer and desperately want to put an end to it. Every three minutes another Canadian is faced with fighting this disease. Relay for Life us that opportunity for all of us to make a personal contribution and take action against cancer.
Through my journey I have learned that cancer is not just about a disease... it’s about the people that it affects. It’s about the memories and stories that have yet to be shared with each other. It’s
about celebrating life as we know it or have yet to discover. We are leading the way towards creating a world where no one has to fear cancer. That’s why I am relaying this year... and we hope you will join our fight.
Thank You.
