When I was 11 months old I was rushed to Sick Kids hospital in Toronto in respiratory distress. They found a large mass wrapped around my spinal cord crushing my trachea, and I was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma- cancer of the sympathetic nervous system. Back then Sick Kids was the only place in Ontario that kids with cancer could be treated. My parents were told the survival rate was 5%, and if I survived I would likely be paralyzed.

I received a 4.5 hour surgery immediately to remove most of the tumour, and then cobalt-60 (cobalt bomb) radiation therapy. From there I was followed by the oncology team and many different specialists on the Sick Kids team until I graduated to after care at 18.

Research has come a long way since then, but we need more. We need better, safer, more effective treatments. Even the children who survive will face life long side effects from treatment including: organ failures, cognitive declines, fertility problems, and accelerated aging. For my 7th year, I am riding 700km to raise money to help further the great work Sick Kids is doing, and to allow even more kids to write stories like mine when they are well into adulthood. Anything helps, thank you!