30 years of horizon

Hello,

My name is Roxane. In 2013, I took part in the first Grand Expedition offered by the On the Tip of the Toes Foundation for young adults aged 19 to 29. I joined a group of strangers to paddle the Missinaibi River in Northern Ontario. We paddled 140 km and completed several portages along this magnificent river.

At the time, I had to summon every ounce of courage within me to say “yes” to this 11-day adventure. I NEVER could have imagined how deeply this experience would change my life! To this day, my eyes still light up whenever I talk about the On the Tip of the Toes Foundation and that expedition!

I could spend hours talking about that experience—filled with learning, discovery, sharing, laughter, kindness, connection, mutual support, and personal growth. The precious memories of that expedition and the deep connections with fellow participants are forever engraved in my heart. What I lived and what I learned on the river still inspires me every day. I wouldn’t be the same person if I hadn’t taken part in this therapeutic adventure.

Since returning, I’ve been involved with the foundation in various ways. I’ve had the chance to build meaningful connections with dozens of past participants of all ages, as well as the dedicated volunteers who take part in expeditions. I promise you—On the Tip of the Toes truly changes lives!

To celebrate the foundation’s 30th anniversary, I had fun making a list of 30 reasons why this organization holds such a special place in my heart. I’d like to share my personal “Top 5,” based on memories from my expedition and lessons I learned on the river:

• I met inspiring people!
  The team, the volunteers, and the participants were all grounded, caring individuals. On the river, precious new friendships were born. We didn’t have to explain much—we just understood each other. We all knew how fragile and precious life is.

• I promised myself to collect capsules of joy!
  Halfway through, inspired by our days on the river and the stories shared by others, I had a realization. I understood that despite the medical scares of recent months, I still had the right to dream and experience joy. On the river, I promised myself to collect capsules of joy and to keep sailing from one dream to another, no matter the storms.

• My eyes were shining!
  During the expedition, team members like Jean-Charles and Catherine told me they noticed a change: my eyes were sparkling. That really moved me. I felt alive again. It was as though a heavy weight had been lifted off my shoulders. At the time, I didn’t yet fully grasp the deep healing that had begun…

• I came back better equipped.
  On the Missinaibi River, I refilled my reservoir of courage and developed new tools to navigate life’s seasons. If I could paddle through rapids, build authentic connections with strangers, carry a canoe over a kilometre in the mud and heat, and survive what must’ve been the highest concentration of mosquitoes on Earth*, then I could also face future challenges and adapt to anything—while still finding joy along the way! (*Photos on the blog prove it!)

• The foundation became like a second family to me.
  This connection is so precious. The foundation will always have a special place in my heart.

On the flight back to Montreal, I knew the adventure with the foundation couldn’t end there. Impossible. What I had just experienced was unique and precious—a true gift from life. I absolutely wanted other young people to have the chance to live a therapeutic adventure expedition with On the Tip of the Toes. I’ve been involved with the foundation in various ways since 2013.

Today, I continue to care for my sparkling eyes by going on new expeditions and working on different art projects.

Over the years, I’ve learned that the lessons from an expedition don’t end when you return home—far from it! We don’t always realize in the moment just how much we’ve grown. These expeditions spark lasting change in our lives, and there are so many ways to integrate what we’ve learned into our everyday lives. It’s truly beautiful and full of hope.

Expeditions from On the Tip of the Toes are offered free of charge to participants, thanks to generous donors. One of my greatest wishes is for as many patients as possible to take part in these life-changing adventures.

Without a doubt, I’m incredibly happy to be involved once again in the 30 Years of Horizon campaign. Today, I’m calling on your generosity to help more young people with cancer—ages 14 to 39—set off on a therapeutic expedition with On the Tip of the Toes. My goal is to raise $1,000 or more.

Here’s some great news:

• 100% of the funds raised will go directly toward funding expeditions.

• The foundation will issue a tax receipt for every donation of $25 or more.

• For this campaign, CN, a longtime donor of the foundation, will match all donations up to $30,000. THANK YOU!

• I’m adding my own personal touch: every donation will inspire me to give back. For each donation received, I promise to find a way to do something kind for someone or for the planet. This fundraising campaign will spark a beautiful project to spread smiles, take care of our world, and do some good around us.

A heartfelt thank you in advance!
Roxane