This year we would like to recognize our Volunteer of the Year: Monique Lui, who has significantly contributed to the delivery of MNC’s mission and vision. Monique has contributed countless hours supporting MNC through various volunteer efforts, including coordinating the Edmonton Strides for Melanoma – Walk for Awareness, being an active member of the Patient Advisory Committee, offering her support at the Edmonton Melanoma Information Session, and raising awareness about melanoma by speaking to the media and her network. Monique’s alliance helps MNC provide support and information to patients in Edmonton. It is through the efforts of volunteers like Monique that MNC can truly be a network uniting the patient voice across Canada.
“When Matt, my husband, was diagnosed with stage III melanoma in 2017 it turned our family’s world around. We weren’t sure what it meant, what the next steps forward would be, or what the future would hold. I decided in these moments that I wanted to turn this terrible diagnosis into a positive. I heard about the Melanoma Network of Canada and Strides for Melanoma. It was good timing because they were coming to Edmonton for an information session the next month. I went to this session knowing that I wanted to volunteer and give my time, whatever that might mean. I had never been to a Strides for Melanoma walk before, but when I learned that Edmonton didn’t have a coordinator, it just seemed like it was meant to be. Giving my time to a network that strives for advocacy, research and awareness of melanoma, a cancer that has risk reducing strategies and the potential for life changing treatments has been so rewarding.” – Monique Lui
