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03/22: Mother fulfils daughter’s dream to make cancer documentary (Victoria)
BC Cancer Foundation presents public screening and discussion of new made-in-B.C. documentary: Chasing Rainbows: Young Adults Living with Cancer
On Monday, April 2, 2007, the BC Cancer Foundation is presenting a free public screening of Chasing Rainbows: Young Adults Living with Cancer in Victoria at the BC Cancer Agency’s Vancouver Island Centre. The film’s producer, Pat Taylor, will be in Victoria for the screening, along with Mary McBride, a senior scientist with the BC Cancer Agency who is leading a major study of young adult cancer survivors; Robin Irving, a local 26 year old cancer survivor; and a counsellor from the BC Cancer Agency’s patient and family counselling unit. Following the screening of the film, they will lead a discussion regarding the unique issues and challenges facing young adults diagnosed with cancer, available support services, and current research. The free screening and discussion take place from 7PM to 9PM, and members of the public are invited to attend.
Chasing Rainbows features six cancer patients/survivors between the ages of 19 and 29 talking about the reality of being young and facing a life-threatening illness. With humour and passion, they openly discuss relationships, sex, faith, anger, infertility, finances, treatment—and survival. The 43-minute documentary is based on a roundtable discussion hosted by the daughter of producer Pat Taylor, Sara Taylor Gibson.
When Sara was diagnosed with cancer at 23, she found there were few specific resources for young adults in her situation. She envisioned Chasing Rainbows as a much-needed source of information, hope and support for other young adults facing cancer, as well as their families and care providers. When Sara died in 2000, before the film’s completion, her mother vowed to make this dream a reality.
“I’m just doing what Sara wanted—getting a message of hope out to young people living with cancer,” says Taylor. “The title Chasing Rainbows represents the incredible hope my daughter and the other young adults in this documentary have, under the direst of circumstances.”
Taylor is donating proceeds from DVD sales of Chasing Rainbows to the BC Cancer Foundation to support a major study of young cancer survivors led by BC Cancer Agency research scientist Mary McBride.
“The increasingly successful treatment of cancers in young adults—75 per cent survive at least five years after diagnosis—has led to a dramatic increase in the number of survivors,” says McBride. “But the cancer and the cancer treatment leave many of them at risk for later problems: medical, psychological, educational and social. We need to know more about these risks and about the care and support young survivors need at this point in their lives, and then get that knowledge to them, to their care providers, and to their families and supporters.”
The Childhood/Adolescent/Young Adult Cancer Survivorship research program (CAYACS) aims to identify the long-term effects of cancer and its treatment on survivors; assess their unique healthcare, education, counselling, vocational and other needs; and develop practical tools that will help survivors, policymakers, healthcare professionals, and other support workers understand and address these needs.
“This important work would not be possible without the generous support of the community,” says McBride. “We need on-going funding to communicate our findings to survivors and those who care for them, and encourage people to buy the DVDs or make a direct donation to the BC Cancer Foundation, so we can provide the support and resources that will enable survivors to live full, complete lives.”
Donations can be made directly to the BC Cancer Foundation to support the CAYACS study. Contact Sacha Lehto at the Foundation (toll free 1-888-906-2873 or email slehto@bccancer.bc.ca) to donate, or to buy a Chasing Rainbows DVD.
Thanks to the determination of a mother and daughter, and through the support of the BC Cancer Foundation and the BC Cancer Agency, Chasing Rainbows: Young Adults Living with Cancer has been made available to young adults living with cancer, their families and caregivers throughout B.C. The DVD is available from the BC Cancer Foundation at www.bccancerfoundation.com/giftshop; at the BC Cancer Agency’s regional centres; at public libraries; and from www.chasingrainbowsproduction.com.
“You don’t let go,” says Taylor. “You keep your child alive in any way that you can. I couldn’t protect Sara forever. But I can certainly help her reach one of the goals she had before she died: to finish the film and make sure it reaches the very people for whom Sara intended it.”
To attend the free screening, people should please RSVP to Sacha Lehto at 1-888-906-2873 or 604-675-8242 or by email: slehto@bccancer.bc.ca.
The BC Cancer Foundation raises funds to support research and enhancements to patient care at the BC Cancer Agency. The BC Cancer Agency, a part of the Provincial Health Services Authority, is committed to reducing the incidence of cancer, reducing the mortality from cancer, and improving the quality of life of those living with cancer. It provides a comprehensive cancer control program for the people of British Columbia by working with community partners to deliver a range of oncology services, including prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment, research, education, supportive care, rehabilitation and palliative care.
For more information, interviews or a DVD copy of the documentary, please contact:
Penny Noble, APR, Director, Marketing and Communications, BC Cancer Foundation
Tel: 604-707-5902
Cell: 604-805-5637
Members of the public wishing to attend the free screening of Chasing Rainbows please RSVP
Sacha Lehto: Toll free 1-888-906-2873 or 604-675-8242 or by email: slehto@bccancer.bc.ca. The event takes place April 2, 2007 from 7 to 9pm at the BC Cancer Agency's Vancouver Island Centre (2410 Lee Ave, Victoria, BC) in Conference Room 2.
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