Bluesky
X.comPaul RobertS FUNDRAISING Page
Workout to Conquer Cancer 2026
Held by Paul Roberts
0 supporters
0 days remaining
This One’s for Gillian!
In 2018 our lives and that of our daughter’s, Gillian, changed forever. While training for her first BMO Half Marathon in Vancouver and the Whistler Half Ironman, she noticed some mild but unusual symptoms. She was diagnosed with a benign ovarian tumor and underwent surgery that winter. Upon recovery she eased back into her normal life and training and planned her return to the BMO Half Marathon in 2019. While running the event that spring, she was having a great race until just past halfway, when she began to feel badly. She still managed to fight her way home, though slower than projected. Returning home to Prince George, she was diagnosed with a cancerous ovarian tumour that had spread to her uterus, requiring a full hysterectomy that summer. A full round of chemotherapy followed this surgery.
Gillian continued regular routine check ups and things seemed to be moving along in a positive direction. But in the spring of 2022, she was diagnosed with two more tumours on her bladder and in the pelvic cavity, so she needed a third surgery to remove those. However, through regular screening she was diagnosed with metastatic cancerous tumours in her pelvis, liver, and lungs one year later. She received radiation in the pelvis region at this point, while the health care team searched for a more effective solution. With genetic testing, it was discovered that she had mutation in the PALB-2 gene. With that pinpointed, Gillian was accepted into a phase 2 clinical drug trial for this mutation in the fall of 2023.
This oral chemotherapy drug presented its own set of challenges to overcome, with nausea and fatigue. However, Gillian met this new challenge like she has with all the previous ones, with positivity and strength. Throughout her journey she did interviews and speeches but also blogged, providing inspiration to so many. She continued her regular trips to Vancouver every 3 months for ongoing screening and things seemed to be trending positively with the tumours showing no further growth and some shrinking.
She made an emotional return to the BMO Half Marathon in May 2025, and I was privileged to make that trip with her. Gillian ran an impressive 1:41 half and I, being heavily undertrained, struggled home in 2:15. She convinced me that we were both going to return this year and run even faster.
But during regular testing this winter, it showed a small increase in the size of her pelvic tumour which was beginning to cause symptoms in her rectum and bowel patterns. Within just a few days, she was quickly booked for her fourth surgery in Vancouver. During surgery it was found that the tumour had grown down into the lower pelvic muscle and removing it would have been difficult, causing more problems than it would solve. They did take samples for further testing and to determine a follow up treatment. They also had to perform a colostomy however, to maintain normal bowel function.
Gillian is recovering well and navigating her new challenges, continuing to be positive and upbeat despite this new reality. During her long journey, BC Cancer and her medical teams in Prince George and in Vancouver have been incredible. So, I am running the 2026 BMO Half Marathon and committing to the 31-days of activity challenge in May for Gillian.
I will be raising funds to support life-saving research and treatments at BC Cancer, helping transform cancer care for thousands of patients and families across the province. My daughter Gillian has been a patent of BC cancer for 8 years. The care and compassion she has received over her ovarian cancer journey has been fantastic.
Please show your support by donating today.
Together, we can turn everyday effort into extraordinary impact for cancer research and care.
Thank you!
Activity Tracker presented by 
If you intend to make your gift in US dollars and require a US tax receipt, please use this form.