October 2, 2025 - What is your ''Why''?

Today’s blog focuses on WHY.  After I was diagnosed I spent a lot of time wondering why me?  Why was I diagnosed with cancer at 31?  We didn’t have a history of breast cancer - or any cancer for that matter in my family.  It didn’t make any sense - I felt like karma was trying to tell me something.  Of course this thinking made no sense at all, but my mind was in a whirlwind. 

Over the years, the ‘why’ is still on my mind, but the focus has shifted.  My ‘why’ now drives me rather than puzzles me.  My cancer diagnosis fueled my desire to start the Tour de Elora in 2019.  It fuels me to spread awareness and help others dealing with cancer and hopefully encourages others to share their ‘why’.  The why that drives them to lace up their shoes every October and log their kilometres and raise money to support the WRHN Cancer Centre. Perhaps one day science may figure out why I was diagnosed with cancer, but in the meantime, I hope that we can raise money, awareness and support for those dealing with cancer.  What is your ‘why’?  What drives you to support the Tour de Elora?

Gillian Alton