Keith’s Story: Facing Cancer, Finding Love

"Cancer may have taken part of my life, but it led me to a love I'd never imagined, to new relationships, and to a blended family I hold close."  

On New Year’s  Day 2005, after nearly a year of unanswered symptoms, Keith’s life changed with one phone  call: “You have cancer.” The shock was overwhelming, but he was determined to fight. He pushed for immediate treatment, ready to face whatever came next.  

Even with support from family and friends, Keith felt alone—until he connected with Leonard, a CanCare volunteer and fellow survivor. Leonard offered something no one else could: true understanding. “Take it one day at a time,” he told  Keith—words that became a lifeline during his hardest moments.

Through pain, uncertainty, and even the end of his marriage, Keith kept moving forward. And in one of the most unexpected places—a hospital room during a painful biopsy—he met Cheryl, a kind nurse who offered to hold his hand. Her compassion turned into something more. Today, she’s his wife.      

Now, nearly 20 years later, Keith is a source of hope for others. As a CanCare volunteer, he continues Leonard’s legacy, walking alongside those facing cancer with the same compassion and strength that once carried him through.

Another way Keith continues to support CanCare's mission is through the Ambassador Program that launched in June. A program made up of passionate volunteers, our  ambassadors are equipped to speak, share, and connect across the community, bringing encouragement,  resources, and the power of peer support wherever they go.  

A special THANK YOU to all of our wonderful CanCare  Ambassadors who are sharing the HOPE of CanCare in their local communities!   

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