亚洲天堂 Lake resident Emily Ellen Beadman is preparing for a 200-km bike ride from Vancouver to Seattle in an effort to raise money for cancer research.

Beadman has struggled with cancer herself. In the winter of 2013/14, she was diagnosed with lymphoma. Luckily the disease was caught in its early stages, and after four months of treatment, she was cured.

She said she recognizes it was thanks to the treatment available to her that she was able to fight the disease.

鈥淟ymphoma used to claim lots of people鈥檚 lives up to 20 years ago; it still does if it鈥檚 not caught early,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a treatable cancer now, but it wasn鈥檛 25 years ago.鈥�

鈥淚f it wasn鈥檛 for the chemicals that were available for me, I would have been dead,鈥� she added.

Beadman has committed to raising $2500 for cancer research. The money raised will benefit the B.C. Cancer Foundation and support leading clinicians, scientists and researchers in the search for new discoveries and improved patient outcomes.

鈥淩aising money for more research is my way of saying thank you.鈥�

Beadman said she feels grateful for the treatment that she received in British Columbia.

鈥淚 found it amazing the medical services that I received,鈥� she said. 鈥淢y diagnoses and treatment fell into place almost immediately; I was amazed with the health care here in B.C.鈥�

Her fundraising started last November, and since then, she has reached 35 per cent of her goal. She hopes to reach the full amount of donations before her bike ride event. The ride to conquer cancer, presented by Silver Wheaton, is a two-day cycling event that will take place Aug. 29-30, 2015. Beadman said she is fully prepared and confident about the ride.

鈥淚鈥檓 pretty fit,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not something I鈥檓 doing out of the blue; I ride my bike all the time and I am pretty active.鈥�

Riders will receive assistance along the entire route, including a truck transporting their gears and providing food and beverages. Beadman said that having cancer has changed her perspective on life.

鈥淎t first I was in shock and disbelief, thinking 鈥榟ow could this possibly be happening to me;鈥� I鈥檓 a strong healthy person,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut cancer made me realize that there are other forces in the world greater than me, and it gave me an appreciation for the bigger picture.鈥�

鈥淚t was humbling to me,鈥� she added. 鈥淚t made me realize that my body is fragile and it needs to be taken care of; it certainly made me think about my diet and the way I exercise.鈥�

Donations can be made in her name - Emily Ellen Beadman - at conquercancer.ca