[ Ссылка ]
[ Ссылка ]
VICTORIA - The Olynyck twins do nearly everything together. But their most recent and most unwanted adventure was fighting the same battle for their lives - separately.
One has just been declared cancer-free, the other, just diagnosed.
Growing up, Stacey and Karen spent every waking moment together. When they turned 12 they realized they had never spent any time away from each other.
"So we told our parents that one of us goes on the farm and the other goes with our Grandma, so we could actually experience a full day away from each other," Stacey recalls.
"We kind of knew that we needed it. We'd always been it the same classroom in school growing up," says Karen.
Since birth they've had an unbreakable bond. Two years ago it was tested to a point neither could have imagined.
Stacey was diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma and underwent a gruelling six months of chemotherapy.
Stacey's prognosis was good and within months, the twins were back, ready to once again take on the world.
But their joy was short--lived. Barely a year later, Karen was also diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma. Stacey fell apart.
"It was almost hysteria," says Karen. "I can remember her saying 'Not you. Why you? You don't deserve this.'"
Karen will soon receive one more round of chemotherapy. If all goes well, she expects to fully recover.
And in the middle of this crisis in the twins' lives, Stacey decided to complete a goal the two women began two years ago.
Both were signed up for the Ride to Conquer Cancer; a two-day bike journey from Vancouver to Seattle, benefiting the B.C. Cancer Foundation. The twins believe the bike ride will be a journey of hope.
"There's always hope," says Karen. "To become somebody better from it all."
"Things can turn around, even brighter than before," Stacey affirms. "Go for what you want."
And what Stacey wants is for her sister to be standing at the finish line. So both will know they conquered cancer together.
If you would like to join Stacey Olynyk on her "Ride to Conquer Cancer" you can visit www.teamspaghettifactory.com or www.conquercancer.ca.
Follow Stephen Andrew on Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
