Author: Jennifer Gouchie-Terris, Chronicle Herald/SaltWire
Lydia Millett was a happy and kind 16-year-old whose smile lit up a room and love of life was contagious. Otherwise healthy, Lydia suddenly became ill last October with what her parents thought was the flu. Within days, she underwent a 10-hour brain tumour surgery at the QEII Health Sciences Centre and passed away four weeks later.
Her death in November 2023 was a devastating loss for her family, friends and community.
Remembering and honouring Lydia has become extremely important to her parents, Russell and Allison, as well as her younger sister and best friend, Stella.
As part of their deep desire to keep Lydia’s memory alive, the family is participating in this year’s 10th anniversary BMO Ride for Cancer on Saturday, Sept. 28. Although the pain of losing a child never goes away, Russell and Allison take solace in knowing they’re doing something very special for Lydia and cancer patients throughout Atlantic Canada.
“That’s the biggest reason why we’re riding. Just to do something in honour of Lydia and celebrate just how amazing she was,” shares Russell.
As an avid cyclist most of his life, when Russell first heard about BMO Ride for Cancer and learned it was in support of the QEII Cancer Centre, he was immediately onboard. Lydia was a talented dancer and ballerina since the age of four but had developed a love of cycling over the last two years of her life. The couple felt the cycling connection made BMO Ride a great way to honour Lydia, but also a very concrete way of giving back to the QEII for the amazing care their daughter received while a patient there.
“We were just so thankful. Her phenomenal care team made a very difficult situation a little more bearable,’’ Allison praises.
Their team, Lydia’s Crew, is made-up of 11 members, including Russell, Allison, and Stella, along with other family and friends. They’ve quickly become one of the top fundraising teams and have already raised nearly $25,000 for this year’s event in support of liquid biopsy technology.
Russell, who also lost his father and other immediate family members to cancer, says their family is extremely grateful for the kindness and outpouring of support from their team, his workplace, their home community of Wolfville, and the entire Annapolis Valley.
“It means so much to our family,” he says.
As they gear up for event day, Russell explains, “to be surrounded by people who have lost loved ones to cancer is going to be heavy at points, but I think it’s also going to be amazing to see how they’re honouring their loved ones and helping other families facing this.”
Allison says Lydia will be weighing heavily on her mind as she rides on Sept. 28, but she’s looking forward to it with the same positivity her daughter exhibited on a daily basis.
“Knowing that we’re all there for the same reason and purpose means it’s going to be a very magical and special day – I’m happy to be a part of it.’’
There’s still time to support a BMO Ride for Cancer participant or team – like Lydia’s Crew – and help make an impact on local cancer care, here at home. Donate now at YourRideforCancer.ca or 902-334-1546.
