In a single week, my life changed forever.

I lost my close friend Marilisa to breast cancer, and one week later I received my own diagnosis. We had walked side by side through so many chapters of life, never imagining that this disease would take her and then immediately knock on my own door.

In the months that followed, I kept moving outwardly, but inwardly I was asking hard questions about who I was, what mattered, and how I wanted to live the life I still had. Cancer has a way of stripping things down to what is essential. It taught me presence, humility, and the importance of using strength in service of something bigger than myself.

In October 2026, I will be climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to raise funds for breast cancer research. This climb is both deeply personal and profoundly collective. I am doing it in honour of Marilisa, whose courage, spirit and love continue to guide me, and in support of every woman and family touched by this disease.

I am asking you to help by supporting my fundraising efforts through a donation. Any amount, great or small, will help advance the work of the Cancer Research Society and support critical research that saves lives.

Your contribution is more than a donation. It is a statement of hope, remembrance and commitment to a future where fewer women face this diagnosis alone.

I am deeply grateful for your support and will keep you updated on my training and progress toward the climb. Thank you for walking beside me, every step of the way.

With sincere appreciation,

Patty Contenta