Jeff Sangster

One More Hill to Climb: Riding for the Next Breakthrough

I’ve recently reached my original $3,000 fundraising goal for the BMO Ride for Cancer. I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who donated, shared my posts or simply encouraged me along the way.

But I’ve decided I’m not stopping there.

I’m raising my goal to $5,000.

There’s something about cycling that makes the fight against cancer feel especially tangible. A long ride isn’t conquered all at once. You keep pedalling. You climb the hill in front of you. You take a little help from the riders around you. And eventually, you look back and realize just how far you’ve come.

I was reminded of this while reading Siddhartha Mukherjee’s ‘The Emperor of All Maladies.’ The book tells the sweeping history of our struggle with cancer — a story of discoveries, setbacks and breakthroughs built upon the work of countless researchers, clinicians, patients and families. There is no single moment when cancer is “defeated.” Progress comes one discovery at a time.

That feels very much like what we’re doing here in Nova Scotia.

Cancer is not an abstract problem for us. Virtually all of us have a connection to it — a parent, spouse, sibling, friend, colleague or neighbour who has heard those words: “You have cancer.” Many of us have also experienced the fear and uncertainty that follows.

And that’s why what happens at the QEII matters so much.

Together, our BMO Ride for Cancer community has already proven what is possible. By June 30, we raised more than $600,000 to help unlock Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) technology, bringing one of the world’s most advanced cancer detection tools closer to patients here at home.

Now there’s another hill in front of us.

From now until August 21, every dollar raised will help unlock BreastCancerPEP, a groundbreaking clinical trial designed to support women through every stage of breast cancer treatment.

We’ve already shown what a community of riders and donors can accomplish. Now I’m asking you to help me keep pedalling.

If you can contribute — whether it’s $10, $25, $50, $100 or whatever feels right — you’ll be helping advance cancer care right here in Nova Scotia.

Let’s see if we can turn $3,000 into $5,000 and help unlock the next breakthrough.

One pedal stroke at a time. One dollar at a time. Together.

The Road to Good Hope

When I signed up for the 2026 BMO Ride for Cancer, I set what felt like a realistic fundraising goal of $1,000.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of family, friends and colleagues, I reached that goal. So I raised it to $3,000.

Today, we’ve reached that milestone, too.

I am truly overwhelmed by your kindness and support. To everyone who donated, shared my page or encouraged me along the way, “THANK YOU.” Every act of generosity has reminded me just how much can be accomplished when a community comes together.

Over the past few years, I’ve learned that none of us gets through life’s hardest moments alone. During my own journey through trauma and recovery, I experienced the compassion of people who showed up when I needed them most. It taught me that hope isn’t just a feeling. It’s something we give to one another through our actions.

That’s one of the reasons this ride means so much to me.

Every day, people here in Nova Scotia hear the words, “You have cancer.” In that moment, they need exceptional medical care, compassionate support and the reassurance that they won’t face the road ahead alone. The funds raised through the BMO Ride for Cancer help make that possible, ensuring that world-class cancer care remains available close to home.

One song that often comes to mind is The Song of Good Hope by Glen Hansard. Its message reminds me that even when the road is difficult, hope can be carried by a community that refuses to let someone walk it alone. That’s exactly what every one of you has done through your support of this ride.

So, with equal parts gratitude and optimism, I’m raising my fundraising goal one more time — to $5,000.

If you’ve already donated, thank you. Your generosity has already exceeded anything I imagined when I first set that $1,000 goal. If you’ve been thinking about supporting the ride, I’d be honoured to have you join me as we see just how much more we can accomplish together.

Hope grows when it’s shared. Thank you for helping bring that hope to people and families facing cancer here in Nova Scotia.

Riding for Gary

On October 3, I’ll be participating in the Final BMO Ride for Cancer as a member of the team ‘Harris Strong.’

Originally, I registered to ride in honour of my Uncle Gary Harris, who passed away on May 6 after a remarkable 29-year battle with leukaemia. Recently, I joined my Aunt Anne and family on ‘Harris Strong’ so that our fundraising efforts could be combined in support of a cause that was deeply personal to Gary.

Gary was many things to many people: a husband, father, grandfather, firefighter, coach, mentor, athlete and friend. He served with Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency Services for more than 20 years before leukaemia, now recognized as an occupational cancer among firefighters, changed the course of his life.

Most people would have been content to focus on their own fight. Gary chose a different path.

In 2003, he became a leading advocate for firefighters battling occupational cancers and played a key role in the passage of Nova Scotia’s Firefighters’ Compensation Act. Because of his efforts, countless firefighters and their families have received support during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

Cancer never defined Gary, but it was a battle he faced with extraordinary courage. Through relapses, treatments and a bone marrow transplant, he continued coaching, mentoring and serving his community. In 2018, twenty years after receiving a life-saving bone marrow transplant, Gary and Anne rode in the Ride for Cancer themselves. One of the highlights of his life was sharing the stage with Michael Buck, the stem cell donor from Germany who had given him a second chance at life.

As many of you know, cycling is important to me. This year, riding carries an even deeper meaning. Every kilometre will be ridden in memory of Gary, and in honour of everyone who has faced cancer, supported a loved one through treatment or lost someone they care about.

I’ve increased my fundraising goal to $2,000 and would be grateful for your support. Every donation helps fund cancer research and care, while also honouring a man whose life was defined by service, perseverance and giving back to others.

If Gary’s story resonates with you, please consider making a donation or sharing this post.

Thank you for helping us continue his legacy.

#HarrisStrong