Can't wait for the 2011 Spring Sprint! Yayy!!

Do you know someone who has been affected by a brain tumour? If you know me you do..

I hope you don't, but the truth is.. you probably do, or will at some point. I probably know a dozen people who are brain tumour fighter/survivors.

Did you know that at least 55,000 Canadians are living with a brain tumour right now? Including babies and children? Sometimes babies are born with brain tumours!

But there's hope! There's ALWAYS hope and each year there's the Spring Sprint and it's LOADS of fun!!

Participants of all ages can walk, run or sprint to pay tribute to the courage of survivors and honour loved ones they have lost.

Everyone is walking with the same goal in mind: Imagine a Cure!

*Click HERE for more information! Registration is on! (there are spring sprints in many different cities across Canada and there's even a virtual Spring Sprint this year!)

By participating in the Spring Sprint you can help to imagine a cure!

Our Spring Spring (here in Vancouver) is Sunday May 29 at Burnaby Lake East Rowing Pavilion.

Registration is at 10am and the Sprint starts at 11am! To register click HERE

It's a 5k walk/run. (I prefer to prance! hahaha..)

This event is super fun! Hope to see you there!

The Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada's mission is to reach every person in Canada affected by a brain tumour through support, education , information and research Click HERE to learn more.

October is Brain Tumour awareness month♥

Brain Cancer is an orphan cancer that needs loads of more press than it gets! Did you know that 55,000 Canadians are living with a brain tumour right now? Including babies and children :(

Approximately 10,000 more folks are diagnosed with a brain tumour every single year here in Canada. Brain tumours are the leading cause of solid cancer death in children under the age of 20 and are the third leading cause of solid cancer death in young adults as well between the ages of 20-39. Fact.

We don't like to think about this stuff but it's all true and real life for too many people. Lets bring brain cancer to the forefront!! We need funding.

Here are some more Canadian facts about Brain Tumours:

-Because brain tumours are located in the control centre for thought, emotion, and movement, they can dramatically affect an individual's physical and cognitive abilities and quality of life.

-There are over 120 different types of brain tumours, making effective treatment very complicated.

-Brain tumours in children are different from those in adults and are often treated differently. Although as many as 60% of children with brain tumours will survive, they are often left with long-term side effects.

-Metastatic brain tumours are the leading cause of solid cancer death in children under the age of 20, now surpassing acute lymphoblastic leukemia. They are the third leading cause of solid cancer death in young adults ages 20-39.

-The most common type of primary brain tumour, glioblastoma multiforme, is also the most malignant. Average survival, even with aggressive treatment, is less than one year.

-Primary brain tumours (originating in the brain) occur in 8 out of 100,000 people.This number rises to approximately 32 per 100,000 when metastatic tumours (cancer originating in other areas of the body that has spread to the brain) are included.

-Metastatic brain tumours occur at some point in 20-40% of people with cancer

-Enhancing the quality of life for people with brain tumours requires access to quality special care, clinical trials, follow-up care and rehabilitative services.

-Currently, the Canadian medical system does not track statistics on primary brain tumours. Complete and accurate data is needed to facilitate the research that will lead to a better understanding of this disease and improved diagnosis and treatment.

For more information, resources, programs, and support and ideas on ways to help contact The Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada. You can click here for more info :)

Brain Tumours are more common than you think

Did you know that there are currently 55,000 Canadians living with a brain tumour right now in Canada? And another 10,000 will be diagnosed this year?

Thats a lot of people.

I know it sounds shocking (and believe me when someone you love is out of the blue diagnosed with a brain tumour?) it can send you reeling...

Take it from me. Someone I love very much is a brain tumour fighter/survivor.

My niece. She is the strongest, coolest, wisest, most intelligent and bravest human I have ever known.

Some things we just can't explain in this life. There are simply no answers for certain events, but thankfully there IS HOPE.

There is always hope.

And thanks to the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada there is more than hope.

There is support, research, education and information available to everyone affected by a brain tumour. But they need our help. www.braintumour.ca

Sadly there are certain types of cancers that people don't like to speak about and this is one of them. I suppose the mere thought is so frightening to many of us we choose to not even go there in our minds, but the truth is...we can not ignore it.

We need to at least raise awareness and support those affected by a brain tumour. There are many different types of brain tumours but they are all very dangerous. Sometimes babies are born with brain tumours. :(

No one knows why.

We need more research and more treatment options. Sadly brain cancer is considered one of those 'orphan cancers' (meaning that it doesn't get a lot of press or funding compared to some other cancers). But thats not to say that it is any less. A brain tumour diagnosis is absolutely devastating.

We want to eradicate every cancer out there one day thats for sure.

Wouldn't you love to say to your children one day that "There used to be this thing called cancer"?

I know I sure would.

Anyways, the Spring Sprint is coming up and it is SUPER fun!!!

You can walk, run or sprint in support of those affected by a brain tumour and it really is...amazingly fun! You can raise money or awareness or both.

Or just come out and enjoy the festivities and show your support!

It takes place Saturday May 29 at Burnaby Lake East at the Rowing Pavillion and check in is 10:00am. Its a 5 km walk/run, and the scenery is spectacular. It is a guaranteed amazing experience.

Come on down and join us!

Here is a link for the Spring Sprint to find out all about it www.springsprint.ca

Hope to see you there!