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Imagine getting married to the love of your life; and then, just four months after a fabulous wedding celebration and honeymoon you find out that your partner has been diagnosed with breast cancer. This is what happened to Rob Grey and Selena Merkouris, two young school teachers who were happily married in August 2003. Today, Rob is a widower with only memories and photographs of his young wife.
I met Selena and Rob at a Walk-a-thon for Rethink in May 2004. As I walked along amidst the crowd, Rob and Selena made their way over to walk along side me. We chatted pleasantly for a few minutes before they broke their news - Selena had breast cancer. At age 29 she had been diagnosed and after many chemotherapy treatments she was not improving. She was terminal and doctors felt that further treatment would not help. I knew from our brief encounter that day that there was something special about Selena. She had an aura and energy about her despite being at such an advanced stage of cancer. It wasn’t until after Selena had passed away, two months after we had first met and only seven months after she had been diagnosed with breast cancer, that I came to learn about what an amazing women she had been.
Born in Montreal, Selena moved to Toronto and taught grades four and five at Birch Cliff Heights Public School. She coached girl’s basketball and loved (I mean really loved) hockey. She was extremely well-loved by her students. It was hard to see them so upset at an intimate memorial they held for her. It was clear that she had been a very special teacher. Her colleagues had so many great things to say about her – that she had an amazing sense of humour and was known to be a bit of a playful prankster, and just a real positive dynamo all round.
Rob came to me and told me that he really wanted to do something to help our charity and our cause. He said that the walk-a-thon they participated in for Rethink had been a really special event for them. It was one of the last things they had been able to really do together. When I told him that our walk had been a one-off and another one wasn’t scheduled, Rob decided he wanted to keep the walk going. It was reincarnated as A Walk to Remember – a day for people to remember and celebrate Selena. Rob had never organized anything like this before, but everyone – friends, family and students – were ready to support him in his planning. Over 200 people registered to participate in the walk. In its first year, A Walk to Remember raised over $21,000 for Rethink Breast Cancer. In addition to being a very successful fundraiser (the goal had been to raise $10,000) the event was a success in many other ways. It was a true community event. Students from both Rob’s school and Selena’s school participated and the energy these kids brought to the event made the day very upbeat. There were sad moments but overall it really was a celebration.
Organizing a fundraising event to honour someone who has lost their battle with breast cancer, or to show support for someone who has won, is a great way to raise vital funds needed for research and education about breast cancer. Rethink welcomes others, like Rob, to organize their own events and is willing to help any way we can. Click here to see some great fundraising ideas. Rob is currently in the planning stages for the second annual Walk to Remember. If you would like to support this event, please make a donation. If you would like more information about this event or have an idea for one of your own, please email amanda@rethinkbreastcancer.com.
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