We don’t have full control over our bodies. We can lose our physical abilities at any minute, but … we have full control of our mind. One thing I’ve learnt during my battle against cancer is how powerful the mind is. I have never to this day taken no as an answer. You can tell me I can’t do something and I’ll make it my mission to show you I can.

Sadly, too many of us (with some even at a young age) have to fight such disease. Despite going through something so unimaginably tough, I didn’t want to let cancer hold me back. I would rather show the world that it’s possible to live a healthy and happy life regardless of the challenges each of us may face. It motivates me to live my life fully with much more purpose.

Many have asked me how I stay(ed) so strong, how I managed to keep this smile on my face and harboured such strong motivation during my treatment. Well, honestly, it’s thanks to people like Michelle or Anais. Rarely do you come across people who inspire and motivate you instantly but these women are bosses! You may already know Michelle’s story via the Singapore Cancer Society; I’ll give you a short brief on both of them anyway.

I met Michelle thanks to SCS. Both of us found it very helpful to engage ourselves in writing and sharing our stories. Michelle was diagnosed with colorectal cancer for the first time at the age of 27 years old, and she is currently going through her third relapse. She had many invasive surgeries with doctors removing more and more parts of her organs each time. She has already undergone 2 rounds of chemo, and currently is having the 3rd round. When I met Michelle, my first impression was “Wow, she is so lively! She is so beautiful and optimistic. She is an example of how someone can move forward after such hard life experiences, with positive vibes and in a constructive way!”

After my chemo, I was undergoing my radiotherapy treatment and still had very short hair when I first met Anais. She had short hair as well and immediately made a joke about the two of us. We started to share our experiences with humour, even if Anais had a brain tumour 4 years ago at the age of 30 years old, and a relapse at 34 years old.

Following our surgeries in July and September, and after Michelle was sadly diagnosed with another relapse, Anais and I decided to take a new challenge to support people currently in the midst of their fight and to show that survivors can have a life after cancer. Although post-surgery runs are currently being forbidden, we decided to still use our legs and feet to cross Singapore by walking!

What may look like a crazy idea has been carefully thought out. Here are all the aspects we have been considering, as well as the motivations that are giving us the boost to take on that challenge!

Our plan?

Walking from West to East, from Tuas to Changi, over a full day. A rough estimate suggests that it will take us about 10 hours to complete the whole journey on foot, considering an average speed of 6km/hour. If we add up a bit of time for our lunch break, and for any unknown event that may come our way, 12 hours may be a better target to complete this challenge successfully.

When?

On Saturday, the 10th of December.

Why?

That’s a good question! Long story short…when cancer storms into your life without prior permission, “fighting” because your new mantra. You have to fight until the end, until you manage to reach the top in what I would call the “competition”. It takes 100% of your mind, rigor, motivation and energy to overcome this challenge. Throughout my treatment, I know that I could influence the room and the control that I let the cancer have over my body. This is why I decided to resort to sports as a way to generate a high level of hormones of well-being, in order to gear up my body for going through the treatment.

Having some rest is usually highly recommended after undergoing such harsh treatments. People sometimes ask me what fuels my drive to be constantly involved in outdoor activities, and why do I have such a desire to enjoy my physical abilities?

I think part of it comes from some kind of “post-disease” momentum: many cancer patients and survivors demonstrate an incredible amount of lust for life. I have always loved being outdoors, playing sports and taking on new challenges. I’ve always fought for what I wanted, until I got a positive result.

This walk is therefore a way to convey a message: “We want to show that life doesn’t stop with cancer.” It is possible to return to balance and to regain a good physical fitness once the treatment is over. Even after such a strain, you can still take up beautiful challenges and do beautiful things with your life!

In addition, on top of being effective in the prevention of cancers, regular and intense physical activity helps to reduce fatigue and risks of a relapse.

Who?

Anais, my friend Clément and me.

This walk is going to be tough but it’s going to be worth it! We would like survivors, boys, girls, healthy peeps, everyone to know that such events are part of life, and handling them is not easy, but these challenges made the beautiful person you are once you conquer them.

We’ll walk for all of us, and we would like to share this positive energy with Michelle who is currently fighting hell, and with my new friend Juliana who is starting her chemo and treatment for breast cancer. And with all other patients and survivors, to give them strength to handle this fight and to show them that IT’S POSSIBLE!