I’m hoping our donation will help with research, better treatment for patients, and maybe a cure in some cancers.”
– May Pringle, legacy donor
Bill and I had been happily married for 53 years when I found out I had uterine cancer. Cancer was the furthest thing from our minds.
I got such wonderful care at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in Calgary. They removed the tumour right away, and I luckily didn’t need any other treatment.
I decided I wanted to give back to the hospital that cared for me, so I trained to be a volunteer. That was the start of the most rewarding 28 years of my life.
I started learning that life-changing cancer research takes place right here in our province. That’s when Bill and I began donating to the Alberta Cancer Foundation.
Later in life, cancer would touch us again. Bill got prostate cancer, and I was diagnosed with melanoma. We were both treated successfully, and continued travelling and enjoying retirement.
But in 2015, cancer devastated us. Bill succumbed to pancreatic cancer.
Bill was my best friend. I’m thankful we had so many wonderful years together. We had the chance to talk about our legacy, about the mark we could leave on our community long after we’re gone.
My husband was always one who believed that you must give voluntarily. Our decision to give to the Alberta Cancer Foundation was a very easy one when we were discussing what to do in our will. I’m hoping our donation will help with research, better treatment for patients, and maybe a cure in some cancers.