Episode 232 - Claire Masikewich, Pediatric Cancer, Resilience & Family

If you only listen to one show this year make it this one! With Producer Sean leaving early for INTERGEO, DD was joined this week by Peta Cox for this heartfelt and inspiring story. Our guest was Claire Masikewich. Claire is a seasoned marketing and communications professional at GeoVerra with a passion for advocacy that transcends her corporate career.  In May 2023, Claire's career paused when her five-year-old daughter was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma, a rare and aggressive pediatric cancer. This life-altering event ignited a new purpose: using her marketing expertise to raise awareness and advocate for more research in the severely underfunded area of pediatric cancer. Claire’s story is not only one of professional success but also of personal resilience. She has faced and overcome challenges with anxiety and depression, which once felt overwhelming. Yet, with her daughter’s diagnosis, Claire channeled her strength and transformed her pain into purpose, becoming a fierce advocate while navigating her daughter’s treatment. By August 2024, just before Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, the Strong Like Sloane Foundation—named in honor of her daughter—became an official charitable organization in Alberta. Since launching fundraising efforts in October 2023, the foundation has raised over $155,000 for pediatric cancer research at Calgary’s Riddell Centre for Cancer Immunotherapy.  Claire is a testament to the power of resilience, personal growth, and the unwavering love of a parent. Her life's journey is an inspiration to all who face personal challenges and a reminder that, with determination and support, we can find strength and light even in the most difficult of circumstances. "You don’t know what you’re capable of until you’re asked to be capable." Music by Zach Bryan!