Henri Giroux says that day is still burned into his memory.
"When you hear someone say 'You have cancer,' it's one of the darkest days of your life."
Giroux, 65, a labour leader and political activist has been through his own battles with cancer over the past four years, and with the support of those close to him, says he has come out on the other side with a desire to support others with cancer and let them know they are not alone.
See related: Local labour activist battling cancer
Enter the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada's Light the Night event. Giroux is organizing a local team (see video) to take part and all are invited to join. Participants will meet at the North Bay Museum at 6 p.m. on Saturday, October 22. The group will walk to North Bay City Hall where there will be speakers.
"I was first diagnosed with stage-4 lymphoma in July 2018 and our world was turned upside down," Giroux says with a nod to his wife and caregiver, Amanda. "I was filled with fear and uncertainty. Although there are many support groups out there, I wasn't familiar with the one specific to my cancer. I was introduced to Light the Night while I was in Ottawa to receive my second stem cell transplant."
Giroux shares first transplant, from his own stem cell, failed and the second he received from his younger brother. It was during the four-month recovery from that procedure that Giroux saw a virtual Light the Night event.
"I felt empowered and supported to know that I wasn't alone in my journey. A blood cancer diagnosis was hard for me to understand because it wasn't a wound that I could see with my own eyes. It wasn't a piece of flesh that I could remove. It was a demon living inside. I had to entrust strangers to provide me with a chance to live.
"It is during these times, cancer patients need their support systems more than ever. The support doesn't end when the treatment is completed. Rarely do you hear from people about the life-changing effect cancer will have on the entire family."
