Teen cancer survivor heading for dogsledding adventure
原始发布日期： 2016-02-25 发布者：李方字变大 字变小
Cancer survivor Colette Benko, 15, is heading on a dog sledding adventure in eastern Ontario thanks to Quebec-based On the Tip of the Toes Foundation. Photo courtesy family. Colette Benko isn’t one to shrink from a challenge. Diagnosed at age 13 with synovial sarcoma, one of the rarest soft-tissue cancers, doctors worked to remove a solid tumour from the Calgary teen’s abdomen. To do so, surgeons had to sever a nerve, which left her cancer-free but without function in one of her legs — a devastating outcome for many, but for a teenager whose passion is Irish dancing, it was particularly difficult. But the life-altering illness hasn’t slowed the plucky 15-year-old, as she’s getting ready to fly to Ontario this weekend for a seven-day dogsledding adventure in Algonquin provincial park with a small group of fellow cancer survivors. “It’s such a great opportunity — we’ll be out in the woods for six days, doing everything for ourselves,” she said. “It’ll be nice to be with a group of people who understand — you definitely gain a different perspective. “I’m sure we’ll stay in contact afterwards.” The once-in-a-lifetime odyssey is thanks to the Quebec-based On the Tip of the Toes Foundation, which takes youngsters who’ve stared down cancer on wilderness journeys — healing expeditions both for the heart and the mind. Over the past two decades, the charity has organized therapeutic adventures for some 400 young cancer survivors, choosing participants by working with oncology departments across Canada. Benko will be one of 14 teens from seven provinces on the all-expense-paid journey that Marc-André Galbrand, the foundation’s project manager, said aims to empower and educate at the same time. “Cancer affects every part of their lives and it takes up a big part of their adolescence,” he said. “They go through chemotherapy and treatments and sometimes it’s hard to reintegrate back into society. We really participate in the healing process.” Colette’s mom, Janice, a cancer survivor herself, said her daughter has been an inspiration through her fight and recovery. “She’s been really positive, trying different things. She’s teaching the little ones Irish dancing,” Janice said. “She’s also learning to cross-country ski in Para-Nordic.” Six months ago, the teen had nerve transfer surgery in hopes of restoring some use of her leg, and though the early indications are positive, it could take a few more months to determine whether it was successful, and two years of healing before she can even begin the long road back. Even then, she’s not sure how much functionality, if any, will return. But for Colette, who hopes one day to be a cancer researcher and has already done some impressive research in the field with local doctors, speculation on the future is taking a back seat to harnessing up a team of sled dogs in the snowy wilds of central Ontario for 25 kilometres each day. “I think it will be very life-changing,” she said. “I’m super excited.” slogan@postmedia.com On Twitter: @ShawnLogan403 (摘自Calgary Herald) |