Donor generosity ensures more Albertans facing cancer have more moments.
Dr. Kimberley Nix
Dr. Kimberley Nix passed away in May of 2024 from a rare and aggressive cancer — undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma. Throughout her journey, Nix bravely shared her experiences via social media, garnering a global following and raising awareness about sarcoma cancers. In her final TikTok (@cancerpatientmd), posted after she had passed away, Nix shared a powerful message of gratitude and joy: “The real thing that is huge in life, is enjoying the small things throughout. Find beauty in the day-to-day moments.” That single post has more than nine million views, underscoring the profound reach Nix had on raising sarcoma awareness.
Her husband, Michael MacIsaac, cherishes the moments they had together. “We never stopped accumulating moments; sometimes they had to be adjusted, and they certainly started looking different, but her love for life ensured we never stopped living. That’s hard to do when mortality is peering over your shoulder, but the alternative is to stop living and start dying, so we chose to live.”
Nix dedicated her final days to garnering support for sarcoma research and education. She raised over $124,000 for sarcoma research and, in her honour, a memorial scholarship was established at the University of Calgary to help support further education for future generations. “I like to say that Kim only got 31 years, but she’ll outlive all of us with the moments she’s going to help create for people following in her footsteps,” says MacIsaac.
Geoff Hollis-Haynes
Geoff Hollis-Haynes faced his cancer diagnosis with the same grace and determination that defined his life. A devoted husband, adoring cat-dad, loyal friend and brilliant scholar, Geoff found joy in life’s daily rituals and cherished the company of those closest to him.
As part of his treatment, Geoff participated in a clinical drug trial that used an innovative treatment option being studied by Dr. Jacob Easaw at the Cross Cancer Institute. The results were remarkable, extending Geoff’s life by 18 months beyond his original prognosis.
“He ended up living for over four years with cancer because his doctor, Dr. Easaw, was very diligent and was always looking for the most cutting-edge research and clinical trial options,” says Kassia Hollis-Haynes, Geoff’s widow. “The last treatment Geoff was on was encorafenib. It was kind of a game-changer for us. It gave Geoff 18 more months when only five or six were expected, which was wonderful.”
To honour Geoff’s memory, Kassia created the Ring of Fire fundraiser, often referred to as the “marathon of pain” inspired by Geoff’s love for spicy food. The event challenges participants to eat progressively hotter chicken wings, even enticing some local celebrities who were brave enough to take the hot seat to raising funds for colorectal cancer research in Alberta, including former Edmonton Oiler Georges Laraque and MLA Brooks Arcand-Paul along with support from MLA Janis Irwin.
The Ring of Fire fundraiser is a way to celebrate Geoff’s memory and his enduring impact on the community. It brings more hope for those facing colorectal cancer and supports improved outcomes through the funds raised.
For Kassia, that’s what matters. “I know firsthand that funding cancer research gives people more time with their loved ones.”
Milan Heck
Milan Heck was only 14 years old when she discovered a lump on her hip in 2015. That lump turned out to be a tumour, leading to a diagnosis of alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS).
Soon after, a lesion was discovered on Heck’s brain, along with 13 lesions on her lungs. Over the next eight years, Heck would face a challenging journey that included 10 surgeries, two rounds of radiation and several medication regimens. “The effects of cancer physically and psychologically are something that you actually live with for life. You’re never really done. And that’s been a heavy thing to understand,” says Heck.
Despite her challenges, Heck made a meaningful contribution to cancer research by donating samples of her tumour to the Clark H. Smith Tumour and Tissue Bank at the Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute. These samples became instrumental in advancing research to better understand ASPS. In 2021, the research team discovered that modified immune cells could eliminate Heck’s cancer cells in preclinical models of her disease. This pivotal finding led to the development of a groundbreaking CAR T-cell therapy, which was tested on a single patient in 2023, marking the first time Canadian scientists invented, manufactured and delivered a CAR T-cell treatment for solid tumours entirely within the Canadian research environment.
For Heck, this breakthrough meant a personalized treatment tailored to her, if she needs it. “It’s the difference between me having perhaps debilitating loss of function for the rest of my life versus a targeted treatment where I can have a somewhat normal future,” she says.
Today, Heck is thriving. Having earned a Bachelor of Health Sciences degree from the University of Calgary, she is now a graduate student in the Department of Biochemistry at McGill University, charting a promising future while inspiring more hope for others.
