Hope Lights Her Way

For Abigail and others like her, cancer society's annual Relay for Life offers support during long journey

By LOIS LEGGE / Features Writer

Copyright © 2005 The Halifax Herald Limited Tuesday June 7, 2005

SINCLAIR, Abigail

ABIGAIL SINCLAIR is a bundle of energy.

She sings, she dances, she plays with the tiny dolls that fit into her little hand.

A year ago she couldn't walk, let alone frolic around her Halifax home with such abandon.

This week she'll walk, even try to run, in the Canadian Cancer Society fundraiser Relay for Life on Friday starting at 7 p.m. and ending the next day at 7 a.m.

The annual event, to be held this week in 11 locations across Nova Scotia, has raised millions of dollars for research, programs and education about a disease that affects everyone from children to senior citizens.

"We're going to party till we're purple!" says Abigail, quoting one of her favourite lines from the SpongeBob SquarePants movie.

She's excited about camping out, eating snacks and walking around the makeshift track at Citadel Hill.

No wonder.

Diagnosed with leukemia a year ago in May, Abigail was initially in so much pain she had to be put on morphine.

She's spent two months in hospital since last spring, had chemotherapy, and taken steroids, antibiotics and other medications to keep the disease at bay.

She also has a port-a-cath inserted in her chest to make it easier for doctors and nurses to give blood transfusions and intravenous treatments during her frequent visits to the IWK Health Centre in Halifax.

These days, Abigail is feeling well. The hair she lost to chemotherapy has grown back and is topped with a big blue ribbon.

But her parents Roger Sinclair and Lisa Bugden know there's a long road ahead.

Even though the most intense phase of her treatment is over, it will continue for another 14 months.

"It was heartbreaking to get this diagnosis," says Bugden, as Abigail dances and giggles nearby.

"I no longer work . . . because it has been unpredictable in terms of when she has required hospitalization or when she's immune suppressed and really can't be in contact with other people because her immune system is so weakened.

"And we've had some challenges tolerating her daily chemotherapy, so in the last little while alone . . . we've had two instances when we've had to suspend treatment just because her immune system has been so stressed."

Even though having a child with cancer is particularly devastating, Bugden and Sinclair have been touched by the disease before.

Uncles, aunts, a grandmother and friends have all been diagnosed at various times.

In fact, Sinclair, who has been a member of the cancer society's national board and was once president of the Halifax unit, started volunteering for the non-profit agency about 15 years ago when his friend died of the disease.

He's participated in the relay, which primarily raises money though pledges, twice.

This year, his wife, daughter and other relatives and friends will join him on a team of 10 for the Halifax relay, although Abigail may not stay the whole night if the temperatures are too cold.

A national event, the relay is held in 13 Nova Scotia locations, although two provincial relays have already taken place. Sites for Friday's event include Halifax, Sydney, Cheticamp, Arichat, Amherst, Truro, Dartmouth, Lower Sackville, Middleton, Yarmouth and Bridgewater.

Members on teams of 10 take turns walking or running around various tracks while the others camp out in tents or take part in activities and contests.

"It's such a community effort and I think everybody knows (somebody) that's been touched by cancer," says Gerry MacIsaac, central region revenue development co-ordinator for the cancer society's Nova Scotia division, who also co-ordinates the relays in Lower Sackville, Dartmouth and Halifax.

"And it's just a way to have fun at the same time as (doing) good work for the community."

The event, held overnight "because cancer never sleeps," brings out cancer survivors, their relatives, family of people who have died from the disease and those who just want to help.

Many, says MacIsaac, are especially moved by a so-called luminary ceremony just before dusk when candles in flame-resistant bags labelled with names of cancer victims are lit along the track.

"It's a pretty emotional thing for people," says Sinclair, who has previously purchased a luminary in honour of lost loved ones.

This year his family will be buying many of them to remember those they know who have had the disease.

Despite cancer's prevalence, Sinclair and Bugden believe money raised from such events has helped researchers better detect and treat many types of cancer.

"The money isn't swallowed in a black hole, there have been results from research worldwide," says Sinclair, noting Abigail would have been much less likely to survive 30 or 35 years ago.

Bugden also sees her family's participation as a thank you, noting they've received outstanding support from hospital staff, their church, family and friends while Abigail has been sick.

"It's just incredible," she says, Abigail now sitting quietly by her side. "That's really hit home for us what it means for our community to support someone like Abigail and (it's) . . . one of the ways that we want to give back to the community that's been so wonderful to us."

For further information about the relay go to www.cancer.ca, click on Nova Scotia and Relay for Life.

Copyright © 2005 The Halifax Herald Limited