Family fundraises after rare cancer claims father
The Insley family lost their leader in 2017 when Murray Insley passed away at the age of 62 due to esophageal cancer.
“He was diagnosed at the end of June, and he was gone by October, so it was crazy quick, unfortunately,” says Murray’s daughter, Nicole.
Murray was one of only 2,400 Canadians to be diagnosed with esophageal cancer that year. He was also one of the 2,300 who died from it.
“It came on very quickly. There were very few, if any warning signs, and it’s very aggressive, which is another very difficult component of it,” says Murray’s son, Chad.
In search of answers, the Insley family went looking for information and support groups dealing with esophageal cancer.
“At the time, you immediately go to Google, and you think, 'I want answers, I want to be able to help others and to participate,' and we came up with zero. And that’s what sparked us. We thought, we’re going to start this on our own,” says Nicole.
So, for the fourth consecutive year, the Insleys are running Murray’s Miles. A fundraiser and awareness walk in honour of their departed dad.
“Unfortunately it becomes a bit of a networking event. In terms of people that have had this hardship in their lives. And you hear a lot of similar stories,” says Chad.
“Our dad had no warning, no symptoms. He was diagnosed, we blinked, and he was gone. So, our main goal is that other people don’t have to go through that. There’s nothing worse than losing a parent that quick, so our goal it to help others, to get the answers they want, sooner,” says Nicole.
The Murray’s Miles fundraising walk is Saturday, Oct. 2 in Exeter.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Canada recognizes housing as a human right. Few provinces have followed suit
As more Canadians find themselves struggling to afford or find housing, the country's smallest province is the only one that can point to legislation recognizing housing as a human right.
Minister 'outraged' after AFN national chief's headdress taken from Air Canada cabin
The federal minister of Crown-Indigenous relations is calling on Air Canada to 'make things right' with the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, who said her headdress was removed from an airplane cabin during a flight this week.
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
Pro-plastic lobbyist presence at UN talks is 'troubling,' say advocates
Environmentalist groups are sounding the alarm about a steep increase in the number of pro-plastic lobbyists at the UN pollution talks taking place this week.