I inflated my bike tires and I am training my legs to join #LaRouteTurquoise (The Teal Road) this September. I’m urban biking for the first time since my high-grade serous ovarian cancer diagnosis in early 2019 at the age of 39 years. This way, I’m supporting the initiative run by my brave and inspiring teal sister, Laurence Domipierre-Major. I’m joining her team and fundraising efforts to advocate for more science research to find the cure of this devastating disease. Laurence is echoing the dream that all of us teal sisters share: the HOPE for a longer life without disease. Help us to make this dream come through by donating here.

This year in Canada, it’s expected that 3,100 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Laurence is turning this “estimate number” in 3,100 kilometres which she will bike across Quebec honouring us. She is visiting women like me, #tealsisters, living in Quebec to document our life testimonies. Meeting her and sharing our stories was so touching, and I want to support her initiative. Then, I’m joining her fundraising team making an additional contribution of Hope to our sisterhood. Each day of September as part of the #OvarianCancerAwarnessMonth, I’m fundraising $3,300 while drawing with my two hands an art-piece to honour each of the women Laurence will visit along her way. My aim is to turn my prognosis (33% survival rate), a statistic - a number, into 33 drawings of Colour and Hope. Thirty of my drawings will be created with love and mailed to all teal sisters who Laurence will encounter along her route, and the remaining 3 will be mailed as a gratitude gift to the 3 largest contributors from August 23rd to October 31th.

My ambidextrous drawing technique is a therapy intuitively created while I’m coping with the side effects (neuropathy and osteoarthritis) of the life saving and stabilizing cancer treatments. Drawing and inspiring others keeps me focused on healing through movement, art and beauty.

Your generous contribution will support additional research and ovarian cancer treatments advancement and awareness. Unfortunately, Ovarian Cancer is a rare and complex disease and there are multiple subtypes of ovarian cancer. Currently, I’m undergoing PARP inhibitor maintenance therapy which was approved in Canada in 2019 - a treatment that is working for my cancer subtype. It took more than 30 years to develop this treatment hoping to improve cancer survival rates. Ultimately, we need to advocate for earlier diagnosis as we lack successful testing to prevent and manage the disease at an earlier stage.

Join us to make the difference. Thank You, Merci, Gracias.

Life is Today

Follow my drawings progress here: @arqrunicos_colour

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