Alecia Demott

Anyone who knows me knows how close I hold my grandpa Gene to my heart; that man was one in a million. My whole life changes after that Friday night (10/23/2015) phone call from my grandpa when he informed me he had been diagnosed with stage 3-4 pancreatic cancer. I knew we had limited time together. All I wanted to do was to take care of him and hold him tight. I wanted to take on all his discomfort and pain. It tore me apart seeing him go through what he had to the last few months of his life. But through all of it, he stayed extremely positive and continued to fight. He was by far the strongest man I have ever met. I am so lucky to have called him my grandpa. When I take on those stairs at The Bow I am going to fight to make it to the top where my grandpa will be waiting. When it gets tough and I feel like giving up, I will remember that pain and burn are temporary and nothing compared to what he had to go through. This climb is very special to me on a personal level, as it is to many. Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Proceeds from the event will support Wellspring Calgary, a place that provides free programs and resources to those impacted by cancer so that no one has to face cancer alone.