Paying it forward

"Cancer isn’t just about the treatments—it’s about the journey, the mental and emotional battles," she says. "Having this kind of support makes all the difference."

She urges others to give as well: "Two in five Canadians will face a cancer diagnosis. If it’s not you, it’s someone you love. These programs matter. They change lives."

For Jodie Wilson, cancer changed everything. In 2010, both she and her father were diagnosed within months of each other—her in British Columbia, him in New Brunswick. As she underwent treatment, she found solace not just in medicine, but in something just as crucial: a cancer support center.

"In the hospital, I was just a patient," Jodie says. "But at the support center, I became empowered."

The program helped her navigate the physical and emotional toll of cancer, offering everything from exercise and nutrition guidance to peer support. She formed friendships that lasted well beyond treatment, and she credits the center with giving her the tools to reclaim control over her health.

When Jodie learned that a similar cancer support program was launching in New Brunswick, she knew she had to help. Through the D.J. Wilson Family Foundation, her family donated $100,000 in matching funds to ensure that others facing a diagnosis would have access to the same life-changing resources she did.