Greetings Blog Readers…so happy you found us. Here is the latest bits of news Ihave to share.
Before my daughter, Sara, died from cancer at age 26 she asked me to distribute our documentary, Chasing Rainbows-Young Adults Living With Cancer, throughout British Columbia, across Canada, the USA and, Mom, if you have time, Europe. That was in the Spring of 2000. Here it is 2010 and I am so pleased to announce that I am getting to the place where I can say…”Sara, I have met those goals.” By attending the IPOS/CAPO Conference in Quebec City, Canada and the Teenage Cancer Trust and Young Adult Conference in London, England in June of this year, I have now not only provided this valuable resource in English, but also in French, to willing psychosocial oncologists from Canada, Australia, France, England, Scotland, Romania, Italy and Sweden.
At IPOS/CAPO in Quebec City, a wonderful young adult cancer survivor, Karin DuBois, spoke in french at the Premier French Screening for Chasing Rainbows. Also, Dr. Martine Hoffman, from Luxemburg joined us. They both speak french fluently. I proudly introduced the film in my limited french. I was glad for their fluency during the Q and A part of the presentation.
In Quebec I met Katie Rzvi who runs www.thelittlepeople.ro in Romania. Check it out! Also, at the TCT Conference, I met Natalya Jagger, who runs www.btbuddies.org.uk for brain tumour survivors.
At the TCT Conference, I also met with Mark Wilkinson from www.jimmyteenstv.com who has created an amazing website for teens and young adults touched by cancer. He has agreed to upload the “Chasing Rainbows” DVD in its 43 minute format as well Chapter increments onto the site. We hope to have the upload completed by September 2010. It will mean young adults, their families, friends and the medical professionals who care for them can access the whole film on the internet. Wow! That will definitely fullfill Sara’s distribution dream for the film for Europe…and around the world. I will keep you posted.
I met, Myrna Whiteson, the founder of the TCT at the Conference. www.teenagecancertrust.org TCT is putting teenage/young adult Units into hospitals throughout the UK. These Units are amazing! A floor or ward dedicated to teens and young adults only…their own entertainment room with videos, films and a pool table, plus a food kiosk that offers choices other than regular hospital food. The staff is trained on how to communicate and care for these young people and their specific needs. I hope this Unit idea can come to Canada sooner than later.
I also got to meet at the TCT Conference, the author of “Cancer in Young Adults Through Parents’ Eyes”, Anne Grinyer. I highly recommend her book. It is terrific resource for young adult cancer awareness.
What is next for me? Getting “Chasing Rainbows” translated into Spanish, Italian, Romanian, German, Hindi, Malay, Mandarin, Cantonese, etc. is the goal I am continuing to work on. I will be attending the LiveStrong Young Adult Alliance Conference in Austin, Texas on Nov 3-5th again this Fall. To have the film translated in Spanish by then would be fantastic! I love this conference…run by so many young adult cancer survivors…who also love to go dancing into the wee hours at the fabulous music clubs in Austin.
So, my dear daughter, Sara…I know you are smiling. Other young adults living with cancer are being seen heard more than the were in 1997 when you were first diagnosed. Your dream for making young adults with cancer feel less isolated and alone is coming true! Way to go! I will continue to do what needs to be done! Love, Mom.
Wow! Today, on Sara’s behalf , I entered the Jon Bon Jovi/ET Canada “Circle of Change” contest being held by Global TV. Before she died Sara asked me to make sure that her film resource, “Chasing Rainbows-Young Adults Living With Cancer, was distributed “throughout B.C., across Canada, the USA and “Mom” if you have time, Europe.” If I ever feel sad or wonder as to what I am to do next, Sara sends me a rainbow or a message to let me know that she is still with on this journey with me. So it didn’t surprise me that I was watching ET Canada and saw the Jon Bon Jovi “Circle of Change” contest. Bon Jovi was Sara’s favourite band in the 80s. And, they were asking people, “what are you doing to make change in the world? ” Good grief! Sara knew that I would know that she would expect me to enter the contest. So I did. The $10,000 prize money goes to your favourite charity. I know Sara would want the money to promote young adult cancer awareness programs around the world. And, under her guidance and direction, I am continue to work to make her dream come true.
As of April 2010, I have either screened or distributed the film in B.C., Canada, and the USA. Chasing Rainbows” is now translated into French and it is having its French World Premiere Screening in Quebec City at the IPOS/CAPO Conference on May 27th.
This Spring I have been asked to attend the Teenage Cancer Trust and Young Adult Cancer Conference in London, England…so Europe here we come.
Today I received an email from a woman from India, who I met at the Control Cancer, Go Public Conference in Ottawa last year, who is in the process of translating “Chasing Rainbows” into the Marathi and Hindi languages.
April 9 and 17th, we held two House Concerts, with solo gutarist, Ed Henderson, for National Young Adult Cancer Awareness Week…one in Vancouver and one in Whistler, B.C. I handed out “Cancer Sucks” stickers and i[2]y Stupid Cancer.com bracelets. (Photos to come).
I have been asked to attend “Fostering Cancer Survivorship Research in Canada: Building Capacity through a Research Consortium” workshop at UBC next week. They wanted a young adult cancer advocate and a caregiver perspective represented at this meeting. I will be there.
These are all exciting opportunities to advocate for young adult cancer awareness. And, until Sara tells me differently, I will continue to “change the world” on her behalf.
More to come…
Still, Chasing Rainbows,
Pat
Chasing Rainbows: Young Adults Living With Cancer 