Tumour survivor and fundraiser gets personal tour of cancer research lab

McKenna Lumley can count to eight in Spanish, loves social studies and says she wants to be an archaeologist one day.

There was a time, however, when her parents wondered if she’d live long enough to make it to senior kindergarten. The eight-year-old was diagnosed with a benign brain tumour in her cerebellum when she was four. She was rushed to a hospital in London where the tumour was successfully removed, a living testament to how research transforms lives.

All pigtails and pink rain boots, the bubbly St. John Vianney School student dropped by professor Lisa Porter’s biology lab on May 28 for an after-school tour of a facility where cancer research is being conducted every day.

“I had a brain tumour,” she told Dr. Porter matter-of-factly when she showed the girl some of the brain tumour cells she conducts research on.

Lumley and Porter are both members of a team participating in the Spring Sprint, a fundraising walk for the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada being held on June 8 at the Riverside Sportmen’s Club. The event is being billed as a fun family day with face-painting, button-making, a barbeque and a silent auction. All proceeds go the foundation, which runs the brain tumour bank, a facility that provides tumour cells for researchers like Porter.

“We use that bank a lot,” said Porter, who is also scientific director of the Windsor Cancer Research Group. “It’s a great resource.”

Karen Metcalfe, McKenna’s mother and the coordinator of the WCRG, thought it would be a great idea for her daughter to see first-hand where some leading edge cancer research is taking place.

“Super cool!,” McKenna replied enthusiastically when asked what she thought of the lab.

The team is aiming to raise $10,000 and has almost reached its goal. Anyone interested in donating can do so here.