THUNDER BAY — Supporting those affected by breast cancer is one of the many goals of the Tbaytel Luncheon of Hope.
An event hosted by the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation has been going on for 30 years. They work to support those affected by breast cancer with these yearly luncheons that raise funds for their Northern Cancer Fund.
Jessica Brown, the keynote speaker on Friday, said she was honoured to talk at this year's event.
Brown was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021 when she was pregnant at 26 weeks with her third child. After suffering two previous losses just prior to the diagnosis, the news of cancer came as a surprise as there wasn't a strong family history of cancer.
"[The foundation] really helped me to feel comfortable sharing my story and helped me feel confident in sharing my story," Brown said, adding it can be lonely getting a cancer diagnosis.
"It means a lot to be the representative for young women or men who have gone through breast cancer diagnosis because it's not often that you see them as that representative and it can feel pretty lonely when you're first diagnosed."
Hospital foundation CEO Glenn Craig noted that the subject was not always talked about by previous generations.
"When you think of where breast cancer was 30 years ago, and I don't want to say a taboo subject, but the conversations weren't happening that should have been happening," Craig said. "Events like the Luncheon of Hope, the women who brought it together really challenged those barriers."
The goal for the event is to raise between $30,000 and $40,000, but it goes beyond the fundraising, Craig added.
"This is one of those events that it's not just about the money, it's about bringing together a community, sharing stories and providing inspiration," he said.
More details about the Northern Cancer Fund can be found here.
