On what was a near perfect afternoon in Whistler Devon Brusse spoke of life like many mothers do; she was confident and had a gleam in her eye whenever conversation turned to her four-year-old son Noah.
As she walked up some stairs into an office the white walls helped highlight her blonde hair and her voice was just as steady as her temperament.
By any standard Brusse looks and talks like a healthy Whistlerite.
But things have not always been this way for her. In July 1999 she was diagnosed with cancer and given a choice that would have decimated even the most even-tempered hockey coach.
Brusses choice was: abort the baby or risk a quick death.
Brusse agreed to share her story because her colleague Maureen Daschuk is the President of the Whistler/Pemberton Canadian Cancer Society and she is trying to start a program that would help people such as Brusse.
Daschuk has made funding applications to the Whistler-Blackcomb Foundation and the head office of the Canadian Cancer Society for a shuttle service for cancer patients between Pemberton and Vancouver.
The service would cater to cancer patients who must endure treatments such as chemotherapy, which are often harsh and can take more than eight hours to complete.
The CCS agreed Daschuks idea was a good one but it has already awarded its 2004 grants and is not in a position to consider further funding until September, which is when all the 2005 programs are accessed.
But Daschuk wants to get the program running as soon as possible and to do so she needs volunteer drivers and sponsors to cover mileage costs.
"Id need about 25 people on the volunteer list to help do about 50 trips a month," Daschuk said.
"The volunteers would have to go through a short training program just so they know what to expect when theyre driving a cancer patient whos just had treatment."
Brusse said a "cancer bus" service would be a great help for cancer patients in Pemberton and Whistler because many of them have partners and friends who cant get time off work.
"I think it (a bus) would have been a lot easier because sometimes when you go down there you just want to come home and dont want to talk along the way and families are so, you know, are you ok?, which can be the worst," Brusse said.
"I did (chemotherapy) treatment for a year and a half and it was a pain in the ass having to go up and down the highway every four to six weeks.
"One time I came back (after chemotherapy) on the Greyhound I was so sick I was in the bathroom throwing up.
"My son was a year and a half old and he was bombing around in the bus and the lady next to me said Ill take care of your son you go be sick and try and relax," she said. "I was thinking OK, she cant take off with my son because were on a bus.
"Earlier on in the treatment I had to drive myself down and on the way back I had to stop to use the side of the road up to 14 or 15 times.
"It wasnt safe I was terrified I was going to go off the road.
"But that was stupid on my part, I never did it again. My husband was like, I told you, I told you but he just couldnt get the time off work."
Brusse added that the problem with many cancer patients, particularly in the beginning, is that they dont want to ask for help.
"When youre going through cancer its a very private thing so its hard to go can you help me out and give me a lift? Can you waste your day?
"You feel like you dont want to ask and its hard to ask.
"Its also a full day commitment for that friend or family member because youve got go down, go to the doctor and do blood work then you do chemo," she said. "Theyve got to make sure that youre OK to leave the hospital so youre usually showing up in the hospital at 9 a.m. and leaving at 4 p.m.
"Its a long day for the patient and the driver."
Brusse said most cancer patients contemplate moving closer to treatment centres but this process can often be more of a hindrance than a help.
"When youre told you have cancer you dont necessarily die, you can live a long life.
"Thats whats so awesome about the Whistler attitude, which is live life to the fullest play hard, work hard.
"To uproot family it would be really hard for most people."
Should anyone want to donate time or money to Daschuks program they can contact her at 604-935-4040.
In the meantime, cancer patients in the Sea to Sky corridor who are undergoing treatment could contact the Vancouver Lodge at 604-879-9131.
The Vancouver Lodge caters specifically to cancer patients who need a place to stay and its situated close to Vancouver General Hospital and the Vancouver Cancer Centre.