By: Stephen Johnson
Photo: Scott Grant
For the Ottawa REDBLACKS Cheer and Dance Team, Pink Week activities to help raise the awareness of women’s cancers is much more than just donning pink on game day. Like the general community, many of the Cheer and Dance Team members have had a personal experience dealing with the effects of cancer.
“Pink Week holds a great deal of importance for me and my family,” shared REDBLACKS Cheer and Dance Team member, Marie. “My mom, now ten years cancer free, was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was a difficult time for our family as she has always been the glue holding us together. We are grateful everyday that she is still around and healthy. It is campaigns like this one that helped my mom survive this horrible disease. Finding a lump in the early stages can save a life and this campaign educates everyone to check themselves often. It also raises countless dollars for research and each year we hear more survivor stories because of it.”
Besides wearing pink on October 24th, for the match between Ottawa and Montreal, the Cheer and Dance Team will be engaging the community in a number of different ways. “When we take part in an initiative like this, we like to participate fully,” commented the Director of the Cheerleading and Dance Team, Lisa Aucoin. “We are working with Breast Cancer Action in Ottawa to support the Kelly Project. The goal of this project is to ensure every woman having a mastectomy is presented with a certificate so she can procure a post-op camisole that will be at no cost to her. All week, we will also be tweeting about Breast Cancer Screening to encourage women to take the free test and encourage awareness.”
REDBLACKS Cheer and Dance Team member, Brittany has a unique perspective towards Pink Week since she is currently in medical school. “My cousin passed away last year after her breast cancer relapsed. She was an incredible role model for me growing up, as she balanced academic pursuits while raising a family. In medical school, I’ve seen how scary and isolating it can be for a woman to be diagnosed with breast cancer. Pink Week reminds patients and their loved ones that they’re not alone.”
The community aspect of Pink Week is very important to Team member, Brigitte. “Cancer is a topic that I am all too familiar with. Having someone very close to me go through it changed my view of cancer awareness and fundraising. For me, Pink Week is symbolic of when there is a need, people come together. The Canadian Cancer Society helped our family by driving my family member to and from the hospital for treatments. It was really comforting to know that total strangers selflessly volunteered their time for my family. Pink Week is a celebration of life and coming together to support our fellow Ottawans when they are in need.”
