Why team "Call me GG"? 

My kids and their cousins refer to my mom as GG, but they never got to call her that. She passed away from ovarian cancer 20 years ago, four months shy of the birth of her first grandchild, my son Jeffrey – though happily just after sharing her grandson's name with her friends.

As is too often the case with ovarian cancer, my mom was diagnosed at a late stage - not realizing that her vague yet persistent symptoms of abdominal bloating, digestive issues, discomfort and fatigue were the signs of cancer until it had spread.

Thanks to the wonderful doctors and the treatments available at the time, my mom lived for 4.5 years after her initial diagnosis - those truly were bonus years, but they were too few.

In stark contrast, thanks to incredible advances in breast cancer treatment, my wonderful mother-in-law, Vivian, enjoyed an incredible 34.5 years from her breast cancer diagnosis to when we lost her last year.

When her breast cancer was diagnosed in 1988, Vivian feared she wouldn’t see her boys graduate from high school. Instead, she experienced 20+ years without cancer before it metastasized in 2012 - and then enjoyed another decade with successful treatments and minimal side effects before passing away at age 79 as the beloved Nana to high school students and graduates.

Vivian’s experience has redoubled my commitment to Ovarian Cancer Canada, because it’s simply unacceptable that the difference between a typical breast cancer and ovarian cancer prognosis would be 30 years - a third of a lifetime! The immense fundraising and research resources committed to breast cancer have transformed fear into hope into life – thank goodness! We’ve changed the narrative for one predominantly women’s cancer – we can and must now do the same for ovarian cancer.

I am proud to serve as Chair on Ovarian Cancer Canada’s Board of Directors, and I am inspired by our mission: To boldly and unapologetically take action against ovarian cancer until the number of deaths from this disease is zero.

Geordie and I are donating $20,000 to Ovarian Cancer Canada this year, in recognition of the 20 years since we lost my mom – because the research they are funding promises to FINALLY close the gaping chasm between breast cancer and ovarian cancer outcomes.

I’ll be wearing my teal and walking in Ovarian Cancer Canada’s Toronto Walk of Hope on September 8th and I’d love company! Will you join me in supporting Ovarian Cancer Canada? 

Please join our "Call me GG" team and register for the Walk of Hope ... and/or donate to this important, lifesaving charity!

Every gift will make a difference in helping Ovarian Cancer Canada boldly and unapologetically take action against ovarian cancer until the number of deaths from this disease is zero.