Rare Brain Tumours Inspire Survivor to Support Community

May 9, 2011

Dan Reddick has the ability to connect with people going through just about anything. He is friendly and open and has boundless knowledge, like there are 28 flavours of Jell-o but they only serve three or four at Hamilton General Hospital. In 2008 he was diagnosed with two brain tumours and the journey this has taken him on has found Dan becoming a steady rock for the brain tumour community in Guelph. On May 14, Dan hopes that the community will come out in support of all of these patients, survivors and their families at the annual Guelph Spring Sprint.

Symptoms like falling down and being wobbly led Dan to see his doctor. Following tests, two very rare, non-malignant, unrelated tumours were discovered. “This led to three operations and two ‘procedures,’” Dan explains. The after effects of these surgeries Dan copes with every day illustrate the severity of even a [so-called] benign brain tumour. He has learned to live with a damaged cerebellum, the leveler in one eye not working, and the removal of one inner ear. “That was my choice,” Dan explains. “I avoided additional cognitive damage by having the left ear removed.”

As part of his rehabilitation, Dan began walking, “walking saved me,” he explains. Today Dan walks three to five miles a day and has walked the soles off of two pairs of shoes. “Because the leveler in one eye doesn’t work, I can’t read while walking,” he explains. Because of the location of his tumours, Dan also faced the challenge of relearning how to read. “Because I couldn’t read, I was starved for information and so I watched educational DVDs.” He watched a least 85 that first year and now Dan can talk to anyone on an impressive array of topics.

In December of 2008, Dan began attending the Guelph Brain Tumour Support Group run by Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada. There he met others also on the journey with a brain tumour. He has quickly become a committed member of the group. “I’m the fun one,” Dan explains laughing. “I refer to it as ‘The Club’.” One of the people Dan’s enthusiasm and energy has touched is Mark Zamin, Coordinator of the Guelph Spring Sprint. “Dan is insanely positive and has a great outlook,” Mark explains.

The Guelph Brain Tumour Support Group along with critical brain tumour research, patient information and education is supported by funds raised through the annual Spring Sprint walk-a-thon program for Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada. On May 14, 2011, hundreds of Guelph area brain tumour patients, survivors, families and friends will come together at the Guelph Arboretum for the fundraising walk and run.



Event: Spring Sprint Guelph for Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada
Dates: May 14, 2011, Check-in at 9:00 am and Walk/Run starts at 10:00 am
Photo Opp: Survivor Walk 10:00 am
Location: Guelph Arboretum
Learn more: www.springsprint.ca


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About the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada
There are an estimated 55,000 people in this country living with a brain tumour and 10,000 new cases are diagnosed each year, many of those are children. Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada provides information through a free, comprehensive Patient Resource Handbook, live and web-based annual education events, and support through a Canada-wide, toll-free 1-800 line, website (www.braintumour.ca), and national support groups that meet monthly. Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada also supports brain tumour research through annual grants-in-aid program. To date the organization has donated $2.75 million directly to brain tumour research.

For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact:

Megan Winkler
Marketing and Communications Specialist
Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada
519-642-7755 and 1-800-265-5106, ext. 232
E-mail: mwinkler@braintumour.ca
Website: www.braintumour.ca
Event Website: www.springsprint.ca


For more information contact:
Megan Winkler
Marketing and Communications Specialist
Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada
Phone: 1-800-265-5106 ext 232
Cell: 519-494-7076
Email: mwinkler@braintumour.ca
Website: www.braintumour.ca

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Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada

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