Robert McLeod

Let's conquer cancer together

Spring 2025

My personal journey with cancer started with an ambulance ride to the hospital on Tuesday May 9^th, 2017 at 04:00 AM. A week later, after a seemingly endless string of tests and scans, I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, and the very next day I had my first chemotherapy treatment.

In so many ways, getting cancer was one of the very best things to ever happen to me. For the first time the seriousness of what cancer was really all about became very real, and it forced me to wake up and re-assess the priorities in my life. It made me truly realize just how incredibly lucky I am, every day, and that I had to stop taking all of my life’s blessings for granted.

I would not be here to write this, or to take on this challenge to support cancer research, if it hadn’t been for the amazing work of so very many people who came before me. It was their dedication that provided for the research and the science that cured me.

On September 25th, 2017, just  5 months after my diagnosis, I was told that cancer was in remission. This coming September 25^th, 2025, will mark my 8^th year, cancer free.

There will always be more testing, and more questions, but I will never stop feeling that have walked away from this journey as the luckiest man in the world.

 I have always maintained that on May 9^th 2017, I won the lottery, and I have continued to do so every day since. I am going to ride 100 km to celebrate the fact that I can, all because of the gift I have been given. I will never stop trying to pay it forward.

The statistics are real. An estimated 2 in 5 Canadians will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. We can all help.

On Saturday, September 27th, I’m riding with thousands of others with one common goal: to transform cancer care by helping fund ground breaking new cancer-fighting technology at the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre. 

Please consider sponsoring me for this cause, or better yet, come join me!

My sincere thanks,

Rob

“I guess that one of the most important things I've learned is that nothing is ever completely bad. Even cancer. It has made me a better person. It has given me courage and a sense of purpose I never had before. But you don't have to do like I did...wait until you lose a leg or get some awful disease, before you take the time to find out what kind of stuff you're really made of. You can start now. Anybody can.”

... Terry Fox