Community champion breaking barriers
August 22, 2018
Meet Anne Chase, 2018 Recipient of the Peggy Truscott Award of Hope
At home and internationally, Anne Chase is a force of nature. Diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1998, she’s made helping others her top priority.
“I really enjoy meeting people,” says Anne from her home in Regina, Saskatchewan. “If it helps when I sit with someone during chemo, or go to a doctor’s visit with them, that’s my reward.”
Anne and her teal sisters at the 2013 Walk
Back in 2004, Anne’s volunteering efforts brought her to a church where she presented an Ovarian Cancer Canada awareness session to an audience of about 400. Afterwards, the pastor told her about a young mother of twins who had just been diagnosed. It was then that Anne decided to start a local support group. It had just six members to start, but today the Saskatchewan Ovarian Cancer Survivors Group is about 100 people strong.
As word of these support meetings spread, Anne was contacted by a provincial group focused on gynecologic cancers. She soon became a patient advocate, pressing the province for public funding of approved drugs. When Regina’s first gynecologic oncologist was brought to town on a six-month contract, Anne convinced the Minister of Health to extend her term. That same gynecologic oncologist has been providing care locally ever since.
Anne Chase addresses the crowd at the 2012 Walk
“It made me realize that people who have experienced this disease have a lot of pull,” says Anne. “When we get together, things get done. And that’s a good thing, because there’s a lot to do. For instance, there are no clinical trials in Saskatchewan and that’s definitely an issue I want to look into.”
On the world stage, Anne is a member of the Multidisciplinary Ovarian Cancer Outcomes Group, which is comprised of researchers and long-term survivors of high-grade serous ovarian cancer. As part of this group, she provides insights from her lived experience of the disease and actively contributes to a study on why certain women with advanced stage ovarian cancer live longer than others. With Anne’s help, a related focus group took place at the Canadian Conference on Ovarian Cancer Research, which was held recently in Edmonton, Alberta.
The Peggy Truscott Award of Hope
In honour of her volunteer efforts in support of Ovarian Cancer Canada’s mission, Anne was named recipient of this year’s Peggy Truscott Award of Hope.
“Truly, it’s an honour and a privilege to see how far this cause and Ovarian Cancer Canada have come over the years,” says Anne.
Named after Peggy Truscott, a powerhouse volunteer and founder of the Ovarian Cancer Canada Walk of Hope, the Award will be presented to Anne at the Walk in Regina. Shortly after an announcement to this effect was posted on Facebook, Peggy’s sisters reached out to Anne to offer their congratulations.
During her 9-year tenure on the Ovarian Cancer Canada Board of Directors, Anne herself had a pivotal role in bringing the Walk to Regina. Prior to the event expanding to her city, Anne drove all the way to Saskatoon to participate.
“I could see how much women with ovarian cancer and their families got from attending the Walk, so I knew we needed it here. As part of my role, I always find someone to share her story from the stage and when she does, I take a look around to see the faces of all the people joining us. In my opinion, that’s what brings it home for everyone, that’s the big highlight… That, and when the finance volunteers run out with the fundraising total,” she says with a smile.
Join Anne at the Ovarian Cancer Canada Walk of Hope, the country’s largest and most powerful event to dedicate funds and awareness for this cause. Money raised helps women with this disease live fuller, better and longer lives. The Walk takes place in most locations on Sunday, September 9, 2018.* Register and fundraise at ovariancancerwalkofhope.ca.
Anne stands alongside others at the 2012 Walk
*In Charlottetown, PEI; Yarmouth, NS; and Ajax, ON the Walk takes place on Saturday, September 8, 2018