Ron Maltman

Ron Maltman from Calgary started the Enbridge Tour Alberta for Cancer (formerly known as Alberta Ride to Conquer Cancer) in 2015, after his wife was diagnosed and treated for Lymphoma in 2014.⁠

Her experience with cancer, along with a number of Ron’s friends and family members, inspired Ron to take on the challenge of Tour Alberta and has kept him motivated over the years. Last year, Ron was diagnosed with Basal Cell Carcinoma, which has fortunately been treatable. “It highlights how pervasive cancer is or can be,” says Ron.

⁠“Competing in the Tour is something that means so much to me.” Ron hopes to continue taking part in the Tour until he is at least 70 – another seven years after 2021. He is already signed up for the Tour this year – kicking it off with his own self-donation. ⁠

“My hope is that all who experience a cancer diagnosis, have a positive outcome – a cure – to look ahead to.”

 

Interested in sharing Why you Tour?

Andrew Gregory

In October of 2005, at the age of 37, I was told I had testicular cancer. At that moment everything fell away. My career, my hopes for the future…everything.

 

I was lucky

Within days a close friend who was also diagnosed with testicular cancer and had recovered called me and assured me that everything would be alright…that I would get through it. That I would live. That phone call of assurance, knowing someone who had beaten cancer, was the first step in my journey back to health.

I was a lifelong athlete and cyclist who competed in triathlons and marathons with friends for fun and bragging rights. As a fan of the Tour de France, I had begun to follow Lance Armstrong during his rise to cycling dominance. His book “It’s Not About the Bike” details his stage 4 testicular cancer diagnosis, treatment, and his return to form.

Say what you will about Lance’s tactics. His willingness to speak openly and frankly about his ordeal, along with the Livestrong Foundation’s Guidebook, put me in the driver’s seat where I needed to be.

Testicular cancer is among the very rarest of cancers affecting men but is among the most common among young men. Just 30 short years earlier, within my lifetime, it would have been a death sentence. That changed in 1974 when a clinical trial testing the platinum-based drug Cisplatin with two additional drugs proved effective in killing testicular cancer cells. This combination became the cure that saved my life.

I was lucky to have been born in Canada where our cancer outcomes are among the best in the world. I was lucky that the crushing veil of shame that had always shrouded a cancer diagnosis had been lifted. This empowered me to make informed decisions and to develop a fighting spirit amid fear and confusion.

Finally, like you, I am lucky to be living in a golden age of cancer research where we have made more progress in the past 10 years than we had in the previous 250 years of investigation. This golden age is made possible in large part by the kind of work supported by donors of the Alberta Cancer Foundation…each of whom believes in the vision of a world free from cancer.

Treatment

After a successful surgery and a clean CT scan, we were given the option of regular surveillance – blood tests, x-rays and scans every 3 months – in the hope of avoiding further treatment.

Christmas of 2006 brought the unhappy news of enlarged lymph nodes in my abdomen, confirming that the cancer had spread. I was prescribed a 9-week course of chemotherapy after a panel of experts reviewed the results of 2 scans. The treatment was hellacious with frightening side effects, but I emerged in April battered but with a clean bill of health. Victory!

Cancer research saved my life. I owe a debt to every intrepid donor and researcher who contributes to that vision.

Having been through diagnosis, surgery, surveillance and chemotherapy I can say from experience how extraordinary our cancer control system is in Canada. My survival is a testament to how important ongoing cancer research is.

How far we’ve come

On October 11, 2021, I will celebrate 16 years as a cancer survivor…but my story is just one of the dozens in our immediate network. Dear friends have been diagnosed, treated and are either cured or are living with cancer. Loved ones have battled and succumbed to the disease. Throughout we have supported each other, cried together and stayed united in our vision.

Where we are headed

As an advocate for cancer research and enhanced care, I have said countless times that our goal is “to see a world free from cancer in my lifetime”.

To me, this means that in the overwhelming majority of cases the cancers that afflict us will be curable or manageable as mine was. People may always get cancer but soon, with your help, they need no longer fear death as a result.

Who do you Tour for?

I Tour for a world free from cancer.

 

Interested in sharing Why you Tour?