Julie Rohr's father, Gary, remembers his daughter as a spirited and mirthful girl and young woman. Her life, however, was cut short when she died of Leiomyosarcoma (LMS) at 38.
Her legacy continues on Giving Tuesday. The Alberta Cancer Foundation is featuring Rohr's story as part of their Giving Tuesday Campaign. Wendy Beauchesne, Alberta Cancer Foundation CEO said that Julie's spirit of gratitude, while battling cancer, is what encapsulates what Giving Tuesday is meant to be about.
"She shared her cancer experience with such grace and humility and vulnerability, but also with love and with joy; and so [at] this time of year, we think about, we have an opportunity to share a story which inspires the community to give to innovation in cancer treatment and research. And Julie's Rohr's story is certainly that."
Between the shopping madness of Black Friday, and more recently, Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday was created in 2012, with a simple but powerful goal in mind: to stop, reflect, to think about others, and to focus on the more noble causes.
"Giving Tuesday is about hitting the pause button and taking a moment to reflect on how we can all make a contribution to make the world or your community a better place," Beauchesne said. "I think for me, that's what Julie did. She was so giving, with her experience."
"Something pretty near and dear to my heart is the Patient Family Assistance Program support that we fund," Beauchesne said. "Imagine facing cancer and also being in a financially tricky spot; and that's what the patient signed antral assistance programs all about, it's just a meant as a bit of extra support for childcare, groceries, or for those who don't live in an urban center, who have to come into town for treatments to the city for treatments."
Julie was the eldest of four children and from an early age, Julie had instilled in her the idea that everyone has a purpose in life. Her father Gary said that faith was the lynchpin of the household.
"Throughout her journey, she just was constantly looking with gratitude into life situations," Rohr's father said. "She wanted to present the message of encouragement, kindness, and good deeds truly doing good deeds. [She wanted to show] you can still bear much fruit and be useful in the midst of your deepest and strongest struggles."
On October 30th, 2015, medical tests would reveal Julie had a mass, and a month later on November 25th, she received a diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma; a type of rare cancer that grows in the smooth muscles.
"From that day on, Julie, who was trained as a journalist and worked very briefly in the profession, started documenting her journey and writing things down and went online and started to share her experiences with the intent of helping others who might be facing something similar."
Julie's messages of love were even noticed by celebrities like Ryan Reynolds, Peter Mansbridge, Rick Mercer, Colin Mochrie and Connor McDavid. But it wasn't fame that she sought.
"I just miss her presence, I miss her openness," Julie's father said. "We would speak very openly as a family about all kinds of issues whether we agreed or not, we could disagree and walk in love. I just miss her her her refreshing and hopeful spirit."
According to the Canadian Cancer Society, in 2016, 1,025 Canadians were diagnosed with soft tissue sarcoma and in 2017, 682 Canadians died from soft tissue sarcoma.
"She [Julie] would invest in people, and do so through kindness, hope and encouragement, with a spirit of gratitude. That's what kept her from feeling sorry for herself," Rohr said of his daughter. "That message of gratitude was so powerfully magnified."
Send your news tips, story ideas, pictures, and videos to news@discoverairdrie.com
Sun, May 19, 1:00 PM
Full-time, Permanent, Administrative