The Canadian Cancer Society Langley Relay for Life provides the chance for people to form relay teams and continue the battle against cancer in honour of loved ones who lost their lives to the disease.
Dianne's Dream Team has registered in Langley's Relay for Life for the past two years in honour of late Aldergrove mother, wife and grandmother Dianne Wall, who succumbed to lymphatic cancer on January 19, 2011.
Daughter Laura Smith says her mother's battle against cancer began with a routine test after an appendectomy in late June, 2010.
"A routine biopsy was conducted on her removed appendix and doctors found it contained cancer," said Smith. "She was soon after diagnosed with lymphatic cancer in July 2010."
Good news came in November 2010 when, after several rounds of chemotherapy, the family was informed that Dianne Wall was free of the disease. The family celebrated.
"This is when we first spoke of Relay and how we would join with Mom as a 'Survivor'," said Smith.
However, soon after receiving the good news, Wall began to have some falls and to lose co-ordination. These incidents were explained to be side-effects of the chemotherapy treatments. After Christmas 2010, the incidents worsened. Wall was taken to the hospital where they discovered several cancerous tumors in her brain.
"After a couple major surgeries and several tests, the tumors continued to grow and cut off any feeling to the left side of her body, then hearing, then speech," said Smith. "It was her last wish to be brought home."
Two days after being brought home to her family, Wall passed away.
Wall's daughters Laura Smith and Lisa Wiebe formed Dianne's Dream team in 2011. In last year's Langley Relay for Life, their team reached 15 members and they raised over $6,500. Dianne's Dream Team is one of the 55 teams already registered for McLeod Park on May 25. So far, they have seven members and are encouraging others to join their team or form one of their own.
To join Dianne's Dream Team or make donations to their cause, please visit www.relaybc.ca/langley2012/diannesdreamteam.
For more information or to register your team in the Canadian Cancer Society Relay for Life, please visit www.relaybc.ca/langley2012 or call us at 604-533-0822.