LETHBRIDGE – When Fran Streeter was told she had breast cancer, it was the worst day of her life.
“I was petrified, it was the most frightening thing that’s ever happened to me,” said the 73-year-old woman.
She was diagnosed in October and said she would not have been able to fight the disease if it wasn’t for the support of her son Jose.
“It’s a very scary thing to hear about,” said Streeter. “It’s kind of in the back of your mind that something can happen at any time, but you never expect to get the phone call that something like a cancer diagnosis has been found.”
Knowing what it feels like to have someone he loves struggle with the disease is what pushed Jose to join the F*** Cancer initiative this year.
“It’s not really top of mind in general until my mother’s diagnosis, because I never had anyone close to me have cancer,” he explained.
F*** Cancer promotes early detection and prevention while also providing support to those affected by the disease. The campaign, which started in Montreal and has since spread across North America, is taking place for the third time in Lethbridge. Last year the group raised $6,000, and this year they hope to increase that number to $9,000.
Former University of Lethbridge student Riley Miller started the initiative after battling cancer himself. He began by focusing on students on campus before also focusing on the community beyond.
“I have an incredible team behind me,” said the 24-year-old. “I think it’s something that’s kind of developed in Lethbridge and become a reccurring name and I just like to see it grow.”
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After treatment, Fran is now cancer free. She is happy Jose is taking a stand for victims and survivors. Instead of fearing cancer like they once did, they now see it as just another word.
The campaign is selling F*** Cancer shirts as part of the fundraising initiative. They are also hosting an event at Pulse Nightclub on Thursday evening to raise awareness about the cause. You can visit the F*** Cancer Facebook page.