Sarah Marshall

Let's finish BMO Ride and do something great for local cancer care

As many of you may know, I've been working at the QEII Foundation for the past four and a half years. In this time, I've been privileged to get to know this incredible event, and meet the QEII patients and physicians who directly benefit from the outstanding support rallied each year by our BMO Ride community. 

This is my first year riding, and I'm glad to do it. I suffer from chronic illness, and with that comes profound chronic pain. I've been blessed to benefit from QEII care myself, which has put me in a way better place than when I was first diagnosed. And I've also been blessed with the gift of life. Though my illness may cause limitations, it isn't shortening my lifespan, or doing so many of the horrible things that a cancer diagnosis does. I'm grateful to still have mobility, and I'm ready to challenge myself with 50 km on the trail to raise funds and awareness for those in need of life-saving and life-changing cancer treatment. 

Will you help support my ride to rally support for local cancer care? Statistically, every Nova Scotian will need support at the QEII at some point during their life. And nearly everyone we know has been touched by cancer, in some way or another. It's our time to make sure the QEII is equipped with the best tools possible for when and if we need it. Read below for more info about this year's ride cause. Thanks for your support. 

---

Nova Scotia has the highest cancer rates in Canada. Currently, 1 in 2 are diagnosed in their lifetime and 1 in 3 patients will not survive. That’s why I am riding in the 12th BMO Ride for Cancer — hosted by the QEII Foundation — to help fund lifesaving cancer care for all Nova Scotians.  

The list of loved ones affected by cancer keeps growing, and so must our commitment to conquering it. This is our time to lead the charge and continue our journey to transform local cancer care at the QEII Health Sciences Centre; for those we’ve lost, those currently facing cancer, and the 1 in 2 who will be diagnosed.  

Funds raised by our 2026 BMO Ride for Cancer community will support the full spectrum of cancer care at the QEII — strengthening every stage of the journey: earlier diagnosis, more targeted treatment, effective support between appointments, and monitoring that can detect cancer recurrence sooner. 

This means advancing cancer-fighting technology and treatment options including: 

• Best-in-class imaging to detect cancer earlier with greater accuracy, reduce scan times and cut wait times 
• Precision oncology tools to help tailor therapies to each patient’s unique genetics 
• Surgical robotics and innovation to enable less invasive procedures and faster recoveries 
• Digital tools that empower and support patients at home, removing location barriers between appointments 

Together, our BMO Ride for Cancer community is helping ensure that every patient who relies on Atlantic Canada’s largest and most specialized cancer treatment hospital has access to world-class care, right here at home.  

With every dollar you donate to my Ride, you’re helping every step of the cancer journey from diagnosis to recovery and survivorship – ultimately saving and changing lives of Nova Scotians.  

Please donate to my Ride today!  

To learn more about the impact your generous donation will have here at home, visit https://YourRideforCancer.ca/Impact.