Thornhill’s Leona Fields (left) grins during last year’s Run for the Cure as daughter Kaylin Baker-Fields shows her support in the breast cancer fundraiser. A survivor, Ms Fields this year earned the Determination Award as the top individual fundraiser.
Thornhill
October 09, 2008 12:18 AM
Adam Mc Lean
Leona Fields walked with her husband and daughters as one of thousands of breast cancer survivors last Sunday in the CIBC Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation Run for the Cure.
But, what set the Thornhill resident apart from other participants were her sagging pockets, weighted down with donations from her incredible fundraising efforts.
Ms Fields raised more than $17,000 for this year’s run/walk and since being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002 and fighting the illness for the past six years, the mother of two has raised more than $65,000 for breast cancer research.
For her dedication to the cause, Ms Fields was presented with the Determination Award, recognizing her as the top individual fundraiser for this year’s Run for the Cure.
And though the recognition is nice, Ms Fields said she is proudest of simply doing whatever she can to give back to cancer research and create more survivors like her.
“My goal is to always raise as much as I can and I think last year I raised the second most (amount of) money,” the 45-year-old said.
NOT ABOUT AWARDS
“Obviously it is not about trophies or awards.The whole point is to maximize the funds that are raised and maximize awareness,” she added.
Sunday’s walk/run in Toronto raised more than $5 million for breast cancer research in Canada – research that has saved many lives, including Ms Fields’.
She was originally diagnosed with cancer in 2002 and underwent a complete mastecotomy.
Three months later, another cancerous lump was discovered and the mother of two underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatment.
MOTIVATION
This experience, she said, and the thought of her daughters having to endure something similar is what motivates her to do all that she can for cancer treatment.
“It took so long to recover from my treatment, it was the worst time of my life,” Ms Fields admitted.
“I never want my girls to go through what I went through.”
Her daughters, Kaylin and Rachel, participate as part of the Langstaff Bear Breasts, a play on words involving the Langstaff Secondary School sports nickname for a group of participants made up of the high school’s students.
The family affair also brings husband Wayne Baker out in support of his wife. Though he didn’t physically endure cancer, he said he was emotionally there with his wife every step, every day.
“It’s about love. When you love someone so much, you go through it too,” Mr. Baker explained.
“Leona is so strong. When she was going through treatment she didn’t hide it, or run away, she chose to fight with all her soul and spirit and she keeps that attitude still.”
And though he walks with his wife and daughters every year, Mr. Baker said he still marvels at the kinship and support shown for the cause and for each other, by the more than 30,000 participants who took part Sunday.
GOING TO CRY
“All the cancer survivors wear pink shirts. Leona was wearing a pink shirt and a women she didn’t know came up and handed her a teddy bear. That was this women’s way of making people feel good. I thought Leona was going to cry,” Mr. Baker said.
Ms Fields said she will continue to do her part to make those who are fighting and those who have survived breast cancer, feel good.
She was able to drum up 135 individual and corporate sponsors this year and plans to eclipse that number next year, raising money, awareness and the hopes of women across Canada one step at a time.
“My advice to women who are fighting breast cancer now is, keep your spirits up. Hope and a positive outlook is important.
“Don’t focus on the negative thoughts, because they will only get you down and every year I hear more and more positive stories ...
“I am one of them,” she said.