Mélanie's Way
3303-224 King St W, Toronto, ON M5H0A6About
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Added by Jopie, at 21 September 2017
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18 Reviews
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07 September 2018
Tonight, we have the privilege of sharing heartfelt words from another one of our volunteers - Robin Quelhas. Robin is a member of our Wish Fulfillment team, and this is what Mélanie’s Way means to him:
When Rob first shared with me that he was going to found Mélanie’s Way, something just clicked. Although I’d only know Rob and Mélanie for five years before she passed, the way they lived post-diagnosis moved me deeply. Mélanie’s drive to squeeze every ounce of joy out of the time she had left was all the more beautiful because she shared every moment with the people who meant the most to her.
My wife and I welcomed our little girl into the world during Mélanie’s final year. Mélanie visited my wife and daughter often. We have a picture of Mélanie holding our daughter in our home and, every time I see it, I’m reminded of her generous spirit and her will to live life to the fullest. I also feel the pang of sadness that comes from knowing my daughter will never count “Auntie Mel” among her role models.
As a member of our Wish Fulfillment Team, I work with the young women we serve to plan and deliver their wishes. From the day I met our first wish recipient, Shannon, I’ve seen the importance of our mission first hand. Shannon couldn’t believe that she was entitled to ask for the specific details that would make her trip a wish come true. We spent over an hour teasing out each special request that would make her trip to Disney with her kids perfect. Our subsequent conversations kept colouring in the wish more and more until we could say it was exactly what she wanted.
It was in that first conversation that I realized that what we bring to young women with metastatic or relapsed cancer goes beyond our stated goal of bringing them moments of joy to share with loved ones and lasting memories for those they leave behind. For our wish recipients, planning for, and anticipating, the wish provides an important respite from the day-to-day reality of the treatment cycle. As one wish recipient put it, we gave her and her husband the opportunity to “be themselves again” by granting their wish and sending them on a trip to their wedding destination for their 5th anniversary. Hearing one of the strong, inspiring young women we serve say something like that makes everything we do feel important and necessary. I’m honoured to be a part of Mélanie’s Way, proud to help grant wishes for young women with metastatic or relapsed cancer, and sustained by the belief that our work helps to keep Mélanie’s spirit alive in the world.
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06 August 2018
This Wednesday, August 8, marks three years since the passing of Mélanie Chalmers - my amazing wife, and the inspiration behind Mélanie's Way. Every day, Mélanie's example reminds us how important it is to make the most out of every experience you get with your loved ones, and she inspires us to help others to do the same. Here are a couple of shots of Mel - and some of the great moments we got to share with her. We love you, Mélanie.
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02 July 2018
Today, we'd like to introduce you to another one of our Marketing team members - Amy Hao. Amy shares why she volunteers for Mélanie’s Way, and what being a part of the team means to her:
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I first joined Mélanie’s Way because Mélanie’s story touched me. Although I had never met Mélanie, her “joie de vivre” was apparent in the way her loved ones talked about her. The way she refused to be defined by her cancer, the way she squeezed the most out of life in the face of something none of us should have to faceThe way Mélanie embraced living was enough to inspire a complete stranger like me.
As I became more involved with Mélanie’s Way, the women I met reminded me why I joined. I still vividly remember meeting our second wish recipient, Jennifer. I had read her wish application before the day - she was 35 years young, with two adorable children. Cancer came into her life out of the blue, and gave her one short year to live. Her wish was to spend time with her family at a Jay’s game. When she first stepped foot into that Blue Jay’s box, I was taken aback by how frail she looked. She was hooked up to an oxygen tank and bound to a wheelchair. Her voice was meek and her breath laboured. But as Jennifer and I started talking, she proved me wrong - she wasn’t frail. Her smile was radiant. She made jokes. Her toenails were painted a summery shade of hot pink. She was surrounded by her family, surrounded by love, and was intent on leaving them with meaningful moments to remember her by. She was strong.
Being a part of Mélanie’s Way has not been without its ups and downs. There have been moments of joy: witnessing a wish come true, hearing from a wish recipient about the meaning of what we’ve done, and spending time with my talented and hard-working team of volunteers. There have also undoubtedly been moments of heartache: the loss of a friend, a sister, a mother, a wife. Throughout all of this, being a part of Mélanie’s Way reminds me that each moment we spend with our loved ones is precious. They matter. That we should squeeze the most of those moments, and squeeze the ones we love a little tighter. That’s what Mélanie’s Way means to me. :)
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30 June 2018
It’s the last day of the Great Canadian Giving Challenge! Donate today to help us increase our chances of winning the $10k grand prize: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/32981
A big thank you to all of you who’ve shown us your support this month!
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27 June 2018
Thank you so much, Sarah and Jeremiah, for allowing us the privilege and honour to hear your story and experience with Mélanie’s Way. [Choose HD in your settings for optimal viewing.] __
Sarah had her dream wedding in April 2013 at a very special resort in Punta Cana. Two years later, in 2015, Sarah was diagnosed with breast cancer.
As for many families who have been affected by cancer, the couple’s focus quickly turned to the physical, emotional and financial struggles of fighting the disease. With unwavering support from her kind and caring husband, Sarah dreamed up a wish that would create special memories for both of them.
Mélanie’s Way helped Sarah and her husband celebrate their five-year anniversary at the same resort they got married. It’s a special place for them - their romantic get-away that helped build, and then solidify their commitment to one another. Most of all, the wish allowed Sarah and her husband “have time for us to be us”. __
Sarah’s wish would not have been possible without the incredible support from our Mélanie’s Way community. Thank you to all who have supported us! To learn more about Mélanie’s Way and to help us grant even more wishes, please visit www.melaniesway.com
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19 June 2018
Sarah Hannafin and her husband Jeremiah had their dream wedding at Dreams Punta Cana in 2013. Just two years later, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. The newlywed couple turned their attention to dealing with treatment after treatment. Just as they thought Sarah was in the clear, she was re-diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer – the doctors had missed it, but it had been there from the start.
In May 2018, five years after Sarah and Jeremiah’s special day, Mélanie’s Way sent the couple back to Dreams Punta Cana to re-live the magic of their marriage and create new, precious memories on their anniversary.
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12 June 2018
We’d like to introduce you, our Mélanie’s Way community, to another one of our volunteers. Julie contributes her time with our marketing team, and here’s what Mélanie’s Way means to her:
“At Mélanie's Way, there’s an awe-inspiring group of volunteers that work to create magical moments for women with metastatic cancer and for their friends and family. Every time Rob (the founder of Mélanie's Way) opens a meeting by reviewing our mission and vision, I’m reminded of the importance of quality time with friends and family. And I’m reminded of how I’m lucky to be able to give my time to Mélanie’s Way, to help in a small way in creating joyful memories for women and their loved ones.
I live in Vancouver, away from most of my family and friends in Toronto. Volunteering at Mélanie’s Way reminds me how lucky and grateful I am for having the time, the means, and the ability to create new memories with my friends and family across the country. And I’m personally thankful to Mélanie’s Way for keeping me grounded and reminding me to reach out just a little bit more often to my loved ones.”
This month, every donation, big or small, increases our chance of winning $10k through the Great Canadian Giving Challenge. Click here to give: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/gcgc/113599
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03 June 2018
Today, we're writing to ask for your support. We've entered the Great Canadian Giving Challenge - a chance to win $10,000 that would grant two meaningful wishes for young women living with mestatatic cancer. This month, every dollar you donate will automatically be counted as a vote for Mélanie's Way, and will bring us one step closer to granting our next wish!
Please consider making a donation at: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/gcgc/113599 or sharing the Mélanie's Way page.
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27 May 2018
The team at Mélanie’s Way wanted to share some thank you's we received from our latest wish recipient, Sarah. We know none of our wishes would be possible without the continued support from our amazing community. Please like us, share our stories with friends and family, or help us grant more wishes by donating: https://www.melaniesway.com/collections/frontpage
“When I first applied to have my wish granted, I never imagined it would be selected, and I could never imagine how much time, effort & emotional investment, complete strangers would invest into making it come true. Saying "Thank you" hardly seems like enough.
Jeremiah & I have been completely blown away by the outstanding effort you have all put into making our wish/anniversary amazing. You've gone WAY above & beyond our wildest expectations and wishes and many times we find ourselves speechless & a little teary eyed.
Thank you a million times over for everything you have done for us. Without Melanie's Way, and your personal investments, we would not have been able to celebrate our anniversary or life in general, in such an amazing way!” - Sarah
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14 May 2018
We are so excited to share an update about our third wish with you today!
Sarah had her dream wedding in April 2013 at a very special resort in Punta Cana. Two years later, in 2015, Sarah was diagnosed with breast cancer.
As for many families who have been affected by cancer, the couple’s focus quickly turned to the physical, emotional and financial struggles of fighting the disease. With unwavering support from her kind and caring husband, Sarah dreamed up a wish that would create special memories for both of them.
Mélanie’s Way helped Sarah and her husband celebrate their five-year anniversary at the same resort they got married. It’s a special place for them - their romantic get-away that helped build, and then solidify their commitment to one another. Most of all, the wish allowed Sarah and her husband “have time for us to be us”.
A huge 'thank you' to all of you who have supported Mélanie's Way for making this a possibility. To create more amazing experiences like this for other women like Sarah, please consider liking this post, sharing with your community, or making a donation at: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/32981
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26 February 2018
Last chance to purchase a delicious Munchie Box in support of Mélanie's Way! Keep your friends or co-workers well fed while supporting a great cause! All proceeds will go towards funding our upcoming 2 wishes.
https://www.melaniesway.com/…/frontp…/products/munchie-boxes
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24 February 2018
Today is the two-year anniversary of the launch of Mélanie’s Way - and would have been the forty-second birthday of our inspiration, Mélanie Chalmers. I am so grateful for the community of supporters who have helped Mélanie’s Way accomplish so much in our first two years: - we have created meaningful memories for young women like Shannon and Jennifer, whose wishes are posted at https://www.melaniesway.com/collections/our-impact - we have achieved CRA charitable status, opening new opportunities for support - we have already committed to making two more wishes come true in the near future
If you are receiving this message, you are part of the community who has helped to make this happen - and I thank you.
Please share this message with your friends, and encourage them to visit melaniesway.com to help us help more women and their families.
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18 February 2018
Tom Hsu, a Mélanie's Way board member, key member of the marketing team, and Vice President at Bayer, on what Mélanie's Way means to him:
"My own mother passed away due to cancer at a relatively young age. I know the impact a severe illness has on a family. Despite the tough times at the end, my most meaningful memories of my mom are happy ones. That is why I was so inspired by Mélanie's determination to fulfill her dreams and get the most out of life while dealing with cancer. I believe the most cherished memories should be filled with joy. By being involved with Mélanie's Way, we can help young women with cancer experience some happiness when they need it the most. It is incredibly meaningful to them and their loved ones. I think my mom would be giving a thumbs up to what we are doing at Mélanie's Way."
If Tom's story resonates with you and inspires you like it does us, please like and share with your friends!
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05 February 2018
We need your help! Please consider starting off your 2018 by supporting Mélanie's Way through purchasing a munchie box! Each munchie box contains a variety of snacks that will help make a wish for a woman with metastatic or relapsed cancer come true, and will keep your friends, family, and/or office-mates full too: https://www.melaniesway.com/…/frontp…/products/munchie-boxes
We are so grateful for all the support and encouragement you've given us in 2017, and we can't wait to continue to grow and grant more wishes in the year ahead.
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14 January 2018
Happy new year from all of us at Mélanie's Way! Thank you for all of your wonderful support during the holidays, and throughout 2017. We received $2,500 in generous holiday giving, which will go towards granting more wishes in 2018. Being able to help women like Jennifer make the most out of the time they have left with their families means so much to us. Watch our video about our second wish below to learn more.
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27 December 2017
Thank you to everyone who has made Mélanie’s Way part of your holiday giving this year. Your donations will help us to serve young women with metastatic or relapsed cancer – creating memories for them to share with the people they love.
This time of year, we are reminded how important these shared experiences are, so thank you for helping us to make them happen. As we head into the New Year, I have three requests for you, as one of our supporters:
1.Please plan to make us part of your plans for charitable giving in 2018 – and consider visiting www.melaniesway.com to make a one-time or recurring donation.
2.Please tell your friends and family about Mélanie’s Way, and encourage them to help us. Now that Mélanie’s Way is a CRA-registered charity, we are hoping that more people will join our community.
3.Please share with me any advice you have for Mélanie’s Way. We take very seriously our commitment to helping young women with metastatic or relapsed cancer, and would appreciate any ideas you may have for us. You can reach me at rob@melaniesway.com.
Again – thank you very much for your generous support. I wish you every happiness in 2018!
Rob Co-Founder, Mélanie’s Way
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19 December 2017
A year ago, we helped our first wish recipient, Shannon, create moments of joy with her kids at Disneyworld. In 2018, we hope to have your support to help more women like Shannon and their families make the most of the time they have left together.
Please spread the word and consider providing a holiday donation: https://www.melaniesway.com/collections/frontpage.
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28 September 2017
Mélanie’s Way extends the definition of serving young women with metastatic or relapsed cancer beyond the medical arena – to focus on maximizing joy and creating customized experiences and shared memories with their loved ones. We grant personalized ‘wishes’ that will create unique, joyful experiences for these women to share with those they will leave behind.
Please join us in helping grant more wishes for women with metastatic cancer and their loved ones by liking and sharing this video and our page. Visit https://www.melaniesway.com/ for more information.
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