Guelph woman's handcycle tour in and around Waterloo region to raise money for new chemo chairs
A Guelph, Ont., woman is marking five years since undergoing treatment at Grand River Regional Cancer Centre with plans to give back.
Cyndy McLean has launched the 10x21: Cycling 4 Chemo Chairs initiative. As part of it, she will complete 10 rides of 21 kilometres each in September in an effort to raise money to buy more chemotherapy chairs for the centre.
She plans to handcycle in Guelph, Fergus, Elora, Elmira, Milbank, Linwood, North Perth, Waterloo, Cambridge and Kitchener.
"This came about as really an opportunity to honour my five-year anniversary of chemo," McLean told CBC News.
"Five years ago at this time, I was in the thick of 10 months of chemo, 21 treatments, for metastatic colon cancer," she said.
"It definitely was important to me to honour all the people that were involved in my care, but also recognizing how many people are are living with cancer, being treated for cancer, and then families that are impacted and wanted to do something to honour all of that."
The chairs, which cost about $7,000 each, are used by patients while undergoing chemotherapy treatment.
"As basic as the chemo chair is, it's really the starting point of people's experience," she said.
Tell the stories of people fighting cancer
McLean suffered a spinal cord injury 21 years ago, and uses a wheelchair and a handcycle for exercise.
"In order to cycle I use a three-wheeled trike that's propelled by my hands/upper body," McLean said. "Twenty-one kilometres, that is a nice challenge."
McLean is also looking for ambassadors to help with the fundraising campaign.
"I really want to tell the stories of other people who are living with cancer and/or their family or friends telling the story on their behalf," she said.
"I really want to share with people how people stayed motivated during difficult times."
McLean got into cycling for the physical activity.
"I tried to do something active every day, even if I was having chemo and I think that was really powerful for me. But for somebody else, it may be, you know, baking, it might be knitting, it might whatever their passion was that helped them stay positive," she said.
"I think those stories are very inspiring. I think they're good things to share."
The ambassadors will also play another role in helping McLean build contacts and enthusiasm in communities she'll be visiting, but doesn't have a personal connection with, she said.
In a statement to CBC News, Colleen Graham, Grand River Regional Cancer Centre's clinical manager of systemic treatment, said the generosity of donors like McLean will help provide chemotherapy patients with a better experience.
"Oncology patients can spend a lot of time in a treatment chair, so comfortable and adjustable chairs are key in providing exceptional patient experiences," Graham stated.
"Having chairs that adjust not only improves patient comfort, it also ensures that team members have easy access and reduced physical strain."
