Mark and Rebecca’s Mother’s Day Walk Story

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Mark and Rebecca Fillier

Hi! Our names are Mark and Rebecca Fillier. We were recently married on September 19, 2015. We had a very happy life together in the past 8 years and had planned on continuing having a happy life after our wedding but life has had some different plans for us. We are still happy together but now we have a fight on our hands.

In December 2015, Rebecca found out she had Breast Cancer. The doctor decided they would perform a lumpectomy and she would undergo some radiation treatments and should be all good.

Well it didn’t end up being that simple!!

After some further consultations with different doctors we were informed that surgery was not an option and it was Stage 4 advanced Triple Negative Breast Cancer. We were told that there was no cure. Without treatment she had less than 1 year to live and with treatment she had 2 years to live at best.

Rebecca was ready to fight this battle head on. She informed the doctor that she was going to prove him wrong. She told him that she has too much to still accomplish in her life and will not allow this to beat her. Further testing also revealed metastases to her liver, kidney and 2 spots on her bones (one in the area of the tumor in the chest wall, the other in the right side of her pelvis).

Rebecca has already watched her mom go through Breast Cancer and become a survivor. She was so strong and this has given her the strength she has today to fight this monster. My love, support and dedication in Rebecca’s battle with this disease also keeps her strong.

Shortly after Rebecca started her chemo treatments, the news was good and bad. While the tumors in the breast and chest wall had not grown, the other areas were still growing. Her new treatments started April 15, and so far the side effects have been much worse. Regardless of this, she is staying positive and is still working at her job putting in as many hours as she can. Her strength and positive attitude continues to amaze me and helps to keep me strong and positive as well.

Now while this is Rebecca’s battle I could not just sit on the sidelines and watch. I started looking at different things on the internet, reading up on breast cancer and treatments etc. and came across a link for the Mother’s Day Walk in support of the Breast Cancer Society of Canada. This is when I decided that this is one way I can support my wife’s battle and I would take part in the 5km walk on May 1st 2016.

While I can’t cure the cancer that Rebecca has I can offer her my full love, support and my dedication to the Mother’s Day Walk to fund research. This could possibly lead to finding a cure for my wife and many other women.

pink chocolates
Fundraising chocolates

When I first signed up for the walk here in Ottawa at the Carlingwood Mall I had set my fundraising goal at $2500.00. After amazing support from my friends, family and co-workers, I have now surpassed $5000.00. I am not stopping there. In an effort to increase my fundraising, I also decided to make some chocolates using a mold in the shape of the iconic ribbon. Since this is for breast cancer, I used pink chocolate, of course! With the incentive offered for the top fundraiser (A Cruise for Two), I plan on continuing my fundraising to ensure that I can take my wife on the honeymoon that we have yet to have.

Rebecca and I would like to say ‘Thank you’ to each and every one of you for your support to this cause. The efforts made by all in the Mother’s Day Walk to support of the Breast Cancer Society of Canada in funding research we will one day find a cure for wife and the many other strong women out there fighting every day!!!!

Hope for the Fighters
Peace for the Survivors
Prayers for the Taken

– Mark and Rebecca Fillier, Team Nepean Fighters
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Thinking about becoming a corporate partner of Breast Cancer Canada? Amazing. work with all types of organizations. We’ll help you deliver results which are measurable. National or local.

A partnership with Breast Cancer Canada is a win-win. It improves employee engagement, boosts morale, fosters a tighter culture. It raises your organization’s profile and demonstrates your support for breast cancer research. To customers. To employees. To suppliers. Most of all – it makes a positive impact for those affected directly by breast cancer.

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