Meet Team Jack Ady Cancer Centre (Team JACC).
They are about to cycle over 200km in the 10th annual Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer Presented by EVRAZ to make a difference for cancer patients across Alberta. And while this team of 13 might be small, they are mighty!
In addition to committing to this great feat of endurance and strength, Team JACC’s fearless Riders are also dedicated members of CancerControl Alberta where many of them work as patient navigators, social workers, registered nurses and managers. Jobs aside, however, like most Albertans across this province, every member of Team JACC has some connection to cancer, be it professional, personal, or both. This is why Team JACC is ready to take on the challenge and make a difference in the lives of Albertans facing cancer.
This team is led by Captain Brendan Grant who is riding for the sixth time and Assistant Captain, Andrea Cox, who is a Patient Navigator and is riding for the fourth time. The team put on a Spin-a-Thon event in May, to raise funds and awareness for The Ride to Conquer Cancer.
We had the opportunity to chat with Gayle Knapik, Manager for Ambulatory & Systemic Care at the Jack Ady Cancer Centre, who works with patients daily, and asked her, “What is your favourite part of The Ride to Conquer Cancer?”
Gayle replied, “Riding alongside survivors, friends, family members and oncology teams is an uplifting and inspirational experience! Cancer affects all of us, whether as a child, parent, sibling, friend or colleague. Raising funds to support the Alberta Cancer Foundation and [cancer] research gives us the opportunity to directly support our community members.”
“By riding in this event we are doing something about it. We’re rolling closer and closer to the end of cancer. It’s an awesome triumph in a physical sense and emotionally as well,” says the team.
On behalf of the Alberta Cancer Foundation, we’d like to thank every member of Team JACC for everything they do to create more moments for Albertans facing cancer.
– Written by Camille Blackman