A Future Investment with Hope...

It seems strange to me to be walking down the corridor of our local shopping mall or out to dinner with my husband and have people walk up to us and comment about out streak.  It usually starts with, “Nice streak” and usually ends with “Yeah, you too!” - it really is that casual.  As I walk away, I find myself wondering, is this the difference I wanted to make?  I think it is, if certainly feels right.  The campaign is certainly spreading its wings and taking off to a level I could have only imagined, and for thisI am very thankful.

On Tuesday May 17^th, Streak for Cancer streaked 33 staff, residents and visitors at the Elliott Senior’s Community.  This past Friday, May 20^th, our Streak Team of 5 stylist and 6 volunteers streaked over 200 students at St. James High School here in Guelph.  Two Hundred!  The support was absolutely amazing.  I won’t kid you, there were way more females than males, but for those males who came out, they were applauded and celebrated! 

This week truly drove home for me how I envisioned Streak for Cancer to be.  I wanted the campaign to reflect a cross section of age and gender bias.  I wanted to drive home the message that cancer affects each of us in ways most haven’t really imagined. 

When I was in high school, I wasn’t worried about cancer.  I wasn’t thinking of anything really except maybe me, myself and I.  I was brought up to respect my surroundings, to be thankful every day and to be all I could be, but making a difference outside of my world, to my current recollection, really wasn’t part of the connection for me. 



At first I thought streaking the high schools was more of a “phase” - not that this is a bad thing at all!  You know, the “everyone is doing it, so sign me up” phase.  I discovered the students at St. James High School were there for the very reason I started Streak for Cancer in the first place.  Many students shared with me their reasons, mostly in an indirect conflict with a nasty disease which took, either permanently or temporarily away from them their grandmother, their uncle or their Nonno or Oma.  Some more directly afflicted in their circle of family or firends.    Sure some were there because it was the going thing, but I believe more were there for their own personal reasons.

Not so long ago, there was a time that Polio and Hepatitis was the unfortunate demise of so many; where Rubella and Scarlet Fever was feared and of major concern.  Our youth today face cancer in ways we faced these fore mentioned diseases.  How great would it be to no longer have cancer as a common word in our vocabulary? 

The students at St. James did everything in their power to make this a very really possibility.  With great leadership and solid role models, these individuals will bring forward their passion and drive to make this, and so much more happen within their future.  On Friday, we streaked future organizers who will continue to raise the funds to bring hope to the afflicted, researchers who will test their theories, doctors who will tend to their survivors, nurses who will ease the pain of those seeking treatment, and lawyers who will draw up the Patton’s for the cures.

The amazing team that brought Streak for Cancer to St. James.
From left to right, Nathan, Ashley, Tricia, Bianca, Cameron and Kendra.
An amazing job in organizing lead by Bianca!

My world on Friday made perfect sense.  As I reflect on the day now, I wish I had thanked each of them for their future contribution.  Thanks St. James!  You not only made a difference on Friday, your future contributions are about to unfold before us!