Ashley Kirilow is not a cancer patient who sits back and hopes for the best. Despite being diagnosed with breast cancer, a secondary brain tumour in her central lobe on the right side of her brain and stomach cancer, Ashley finds the energy outside of treatment to actively participate in the battle against the dreaded disease.
She has established her own foundation, “Change” for a Cure”, which encourages individuals to save their spare change in a jar to help contribute funding for the drug, DCA – or dichloroacetic acid. Despite the foundation being relatively new, several thousand members have already shown support on online forums, networking systems or by starting their own collection jars.
Inspirational Icon
One of Ashley’s inspirations for being an active contributor in the fight against cancer is the skateboarder, Rob Dyer. In 2004, Rob skated from the southern states of America to Canada to promote his organization, “Skate4Cancer.” His goal is to spread awareness about cancer prevention and teach young adults and children about the simple precautions they can personally do to prevent getting the disease.
Rob’s drastic measures to gain awareness have inspired Ashley to think big. Seeing the tremendous affect and support Rob has gained from his influential skating trip has inspired Ashley to do a similar act. In the spring of 2010, she will take a long walk – one that will take her several weeks.
Walking the Walk
On the 29th of April in 2010, Ashley will start her long journey from Toronto, Ontario with her eyes set on the University of Alberta. This long trip is about 3480km in length and will take several weeks to complete. The focus of the walk will be to raise awareness about her foundation, “Change” for a Cure and gain funding for the drug, DCA.
The point of the walk, according to Ashley, is to personally give all of the money that has been kindly donated to her foundation “Change” for a Cure to the researchers at the University of Alberta. The reasoning for this is because this is the central location for drug funding and research on the chemo drug, DCA.
During her walk, Ashley will be stopping through several cities along the way, meeting supporters in person and collecting any change jars that has been started by fellow supports and strangers. She hopes to meet many new faces and supporters along the way.
Ashley encourages all supporters to continue saving any spare change in a jar, particularly those living between Toronto and Alberta, as she might stop by and collect the jar in person in the spring and summer of 2010. Changing the world and finding a cure for cancer can never come too early, especially not for Ashley Kirilow.
To learn more about Ashley’s personal struggle with cancer and her inspiration and motivation behind her foundation, please read the article Ashley Kirilow – a Fighter.
To learn more about “‘Change’ for a Cure,” please read the article “Change” For a Cure.
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