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Hilary Henley
17 years old
Winnipeg, Manitoba

I was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia on April 1, 1999. I was 13 years old and just finishing grade eight. My diagnosis came as a complete surprise. I had a routine blood test done and a week later, I was told that I had cancerous cells in my blood. I began chemotherapy treatments immediately and went into remission just a month and a half later. I continued receiving chemotherapy treatments for the next 2 _ years. I finished on August 10, 2001. I still continue to visit the Cancer Care clinic for regular check-ups, as I will for the rest of my life, however my visits are becoming less frequent all the time.

It’s sometimes hard to think of anything that I enjoyed during this difficult time in my life but the truth is, this experience brought my entire family closer together and I believe that it has made me a stronger person.

Following my diagnosis, I was unable to continue attending my classes. I finished off the year as best I could and continued on to grade nine the following year. Although I was unable to attend classes, I finished my courses through Distance Education and the help of a great tutor and friend. I returned to school for grade 10 at a new high school. I was still receiving chemotherapy treatments during this year and having been away from school for almost 1 _ years, I found that most of my group of friends had grown up and moved on without me while I was gone. This made for a very difficult transition but I worked hard at school and with the help of one of my closest friends, met many new people. As a result, I am graduating from high school on June 25, 2003, on time, with my original class.

These cyclists are amazing people. I wish them all the luck in the world and a big thanks for their contributions and dedication.