Sarah Cook was eight years old in 2000 when she was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma, a type of bone cancer.
Now in her early 30s, Cook spoke to CityNews about her experience from her home in London, England. She doesn’t have many memories from before her diagnosis.
“My life started at eight,” she said. “People often say when you get diagnosed you become a grown up very fast, and so we joke in my family I was eight going on 30, which now I’m 32 and now I feel like 80.”
Sarah Cook as a child, before she was diagnosed with cancer. (Submitted by: Sarah Cook)
There are 10,000 Canadian children living with cancer and 1,500 more are diagnosed each year, according to Mark Holland, Canada’s health minister. It’s estimated close to 85 per cent of children survive the diagnosis after five years, per Health Canada.
The outpouring of support from Cook’s friends and family was so significant that there’s now a “Sarah’s Floor” at the Montreal Children’s Hospital (MCH) and Sarah’s Fund for Cedars (SFC), which raises money to improve the experiences of childhood cancer patients. It’s raised $14 million since starting in 2001.
Full of heroes and celebrities
SFC’s main annual fundraiser is the Stroll & Dash event, in its 23rd year, being held at Danyluk Park in the Town of Mount Royal on Sunday.
The heroes of the event, young cancer patients, will participate in a race around the track with hundreds of supporters cheering them on. They’ll be accompanied by Montreal Alouettes players and firefighters who will support them along their brave journey.
Additionally, there will be face-painting stations, dancing, bouncy castles, arts & crafts and food.
“It’s an opportunity to celebrate the young cancer patients being treated on Sarah’s Floor,” explains Stroll & Dash’s other co-chair, Jessica Lutfy. “There’s a special race just for these heroes, who get to wear superhero capes and do a lap around the track while being cheered on by hundreds of participants. It’s very moving.”
This year’s funds are going towards Hematology Oncology Psychotherapy Education, a program that addresses the psychological needs of pediatric hematology-oncology patients and their families.
Family bonds
Cook said she formed strong bonds while she was being treated at the MCH. One of those bonds was with Connie Richards, a nurse who has worked in the unit for 24 years.
“Connie is definitely part of my family now,” said Cook. “I wouldn’t be who I am today without her.”
“She knows when a kid needs to talk or when they need to laugh and keeps everybody in line to make sure that the floor runs smoothly… she’s a force of nature.”
While on breaks from her film production job, Cook makes it a point to visit the hospital and talk to the other kids.
“There’s no stopping you after once you’ve beaten cancer,” Cook tells them. “There’s literally no hurdle you can do or can’t jump over now.”
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