Celebrating International Women's Day With The Women Of The Fight To End Cancer
On average, 103,100 Canadian women will be diagnosed with cancer and 40,400 women will die from cancer.
Each year, the Fight To End Cancer Gala features at least one female bout that proves to be the ‘Fight Of The Night’.
Join us on March 8th, as we celebrate International Women’s Day by reflecting on all of the hard work that our past, and present, female fighters have put into training to step into our ring and the hundreds of thousands of dollars that have been raised (collectively between them), in support of cancer research at the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation.
Heather MacDonald, Christina Vatsis, Dawn Millar and Alison Turnbull, along with their 6 teammates hope to raise over $250,000.00 this year alone. Learn how you can join them in their Fight To End Cancer. View FTEC2018 Fight Team.
Media Contact: Jennifer Huggins | Founder, Executive Director | Phone: +1 (416) 666.9314 | Email address: [email protected]
Countless women have dedicated their lives to ending cancer. Let’s celebrate International Women’s Day, with the Women Of The Fight To End Cancer by taking a look at some of their incredible stories…
Photo Credit: Spencer Wynn
JENNIFER HUGGINS – FOUNDER | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
“I am commonly asked why I choose to “fight” cancer. The truth is, there are so many causes out there that need to be supported and one day I hope to fight for all of them. I fight cancer as these diseases continue to attack those who mean the world to me – my community.
The Fight To End Cancer started as an outlet through which I could bring together all of my passions: boxing, business and entertainment. Developing this unique fundraising event allowed me the ability to try to fulfill my dream of building a stronger, healthier community.
I believe that fighting is in our DNA. It is a skill we develop when dealing with adverse situations. Sometimes, we choose to fight and other times we are forced to. The battle which one faces with cancer, is much like a boxing match; only the decision to step into the ring was made for them along with their opponent. The team that stands behind a boxer can make, or break their fight. It is no different for someone who is faced with the reality of having to fight cancer – the team behind them can make all the difference.
Cancer does not discriminate. We have all watched, painfully, as it attacks friends and family, both young and old. It tests the limits, of not only the victim, but also of their loved ones. Maintaining the physical strength it takes to go to battle with cancer is something that can take virtually everything out of an individual. However, the burning flame to fight and to win must never be extinguished – those who can fight – must.” ~ More About Jennifer
Photo Credit: Virgil Barrow
DAWN MILLAR | FTEC2018 FIGHTER
Every day Dawn Millar finds her motivation to train for FTEC 2018 in the eyes of her children. Dawn’s father passed away due to cancer at the age of 51, just months before the birth of her first child, who was his first grandchild. Dawn felt like her life had ‘blown apart’ when she lost her Dad, but as an FTEC fighter she wants to prove that Defeat is Not an Option. More About Dawn
Photo Credit: Virgil Barrow
HEATHER MACDONALD | FTEC2018 FIGHTER
Heather MacDonald endured the agony of watching her father endure a two-year battle with soft-tissue sarcoma, which ended with his untimely passing in 2009. Heather says her Dad fought harder than she knew was ‘humanly possible’. Now it’s Heather’s turn to mirror her father’s strength and determination, as she steps into the ring as a 2018 FTEC fighter. More About Heather
Photo Credit: Virgil Barrow
CHRISTINA VATSIS | FTEC2018 FIGHTER
Christina Vatsis is no stranger to loss, or to the transformative power of giving back. Christina lost her father to colon cancer in 2009, and witnessed her aunt’s intensive and debilitating treatments for breast cancer. Christina is a prolific volunteer and she has previously donated her time to an orphanage in Africa and raised funds for a number of important charitable causes. Now, as an FTEC 2018 fighter, Christina will be channeling her talent toward her goal of raising funds for critical cancer research, that might have helped save her Dad. A veteran flight attendant, Christina prides herself on being courteous and polite. She plans to maintain her signature smile with every punch that she lands on fight night. More About Christina
Photo Credit: Virgil Barrow
ALISON TURNBULL | FTEC2018 FIGHTER
Like many of us, Alison Turnbull has been directly touched by cancer, losing her mother to the disease in 2016. A veteran attendee of the annual Fight To End Cancer gala, Alison says she was motivated to become a fighter when she witnessed the level of commitment to training she saw in the FTEC team. She is the most recent member in a long line of fighters coming from Eagle Professional Resources and was surprised to learn that scoring the W on fight night will be included on this year’s performance review. More about Alison
Photo Credit: Nicholas Theodorou | Leslie and her mom Evelyn after she fought in Fight To End Cancer 2015.
LESLIE EHM | FTEC2015 FIGHTER & FTEC2018 PRESENTING PARTNER
“Everyone has a fight in life. Some fight to be heard, some to go unnoticed, some to shine and some just to survive. On May 30th, 2015, at 51 years of age, I got into the ring to fight. It was a bucket list thing for me! Anyone who knows me, knows I’ve been a fighter all of my life. I always refer to it as ‘the good fight’ – the relentless pursuit of goodness and what’s ‘right’. I try to fight that good fight every day. But for one incredible night, I got to fight not just the ‘good fight’, but a super badass one as well. Not only did I get to take on an opponent and go three rounds in a real amateur bout, (which is beyond cool), I also got to raise my fists against the evil that is cancer. Because every drop of sweat, and every punch thrown and taken was in solidarity with those who have faced the disease and won or lost and for everyone who loved those fighters. For my Uncle Stevie, for my cousin Elli, for the grandmother I never met, for my friend Philip, for my friends – especially Dayna who is battling breast cancer today – family and a better future – this fight was for all of you.”
Photo Credit: Virgil Barrow
MARIELA BURKETT | OFFICIAL FTEC AMBASSADOR
Mariela is incredibly motivated and driven to helping out families with the mental, physical, and financial struggle that comes along with a cancer diagnosis. She has lived through it herself and knows all about the fight that lasts through diagnosis, remission, and life after cancer. She is committed to supporting others going through a similar fight. Mariela took her passion for fitness, and her dedication to helping others, and created a “Survivor Bootcamp” fitness workshop. She runs these bootcamps annually and semi-annually, in May and November, with all proceeds going towards providing financial support to cancer fighters and their families. More about Mariela