John Flewelling

Why I Ride:

Nova Scotia has the highest cancer rates in all of Canada. 1 in 3 patients will not survive. The words "you have cancer" have been heard by far too many people, and continues to be a common phrase as we live longer and longer. 

Both of my parents have been undergoing treatment for various forms of cancer since 2018, and the advancements to treatment in cancer care/oncology are largely why they are still here with us today. 

The "Flew Fighters" team was built in honour of them, but also in honour/memory of other team members who have lost parents, grandparents, siblings, friends, and loved ones to this disease. I'm happy to be joined by a large number of family members and friends, including my Mother who will be riding again for the 3rd year in a row. 

Others are not as fortunate, and we need to continue to take steps to innovate and push the needle on the standard of care for Cancer Treatment and detection.

To help combat these alarming stats, our BMO Ride for Cancer community is rallying like never before to introduce liquid biopsy technology that will help determine if a patient’s cancer is cured, if it has returned, and, if so, how best to treat it.

On Saturday, September 28, 2024, I’m riding 130km alongside a community with one common goal: transforming local cancer care at the QEII Health Sciences Centre.  

Faster diagnosis saves lives, which is why BMO Ride for Cancer is on a mission to bring rapid cancer detection and monitoring to patients who have already undergone treatment. With a simple blood test that can happen anywhere in the province, QEII experts will use this revolutionary technology to uncover whether patients are cancer-free after surgery and the earliest signs if their cancer has returned.

This technology will be a game-changer. Life-changing benefits include:

• improving survival rates and provide potential cures with earlier detection and personalized treatment options;
• unlocking access to more clinical trials;
• sparing patients from unnecessary treatments and harmful side effects;
• keeping care closer to home and ensuring equitable access, as patients can undergo a simple blood test in any community in Nova Scotia;
• reducing the number of visits required to the QEII, which ultimately impacts wait times;
• providing critical answers about a patient’s cancer sooner, helping to relieve anxiety and worry; and much more.

By supporting my ride today, you are joining a community dedicated to moving the needle in cancer care for Nova Scotians. Your support will pave the way for a future of hope for all of us.

Are you ready to save lives?

To learn more about liquid biopsy technology and the impact your critical donation will have, click here.