Cancer survivor pedals for a cure

While the disease left him sidelined for years, the married father of three is back in his bike seat again training for this year's Ride to Conquer Cancer.

The 200-kilometre fundraiser from Toronto to Niagara Falls, held the weekend of June 12 and 13, raises money for cancer research and treatment at Toronto's Princess Margaret Hospital, Canada's premiere oncology centre.

"I was stricken with this disease a few years ago and always wanted to give something back to the institution that saved my life," said Roach, who lives with his wife, Linda and their children Trentyn, Tannor and Tyla near Eglinton Avenue and Weston Road.

"The people at Princess Margaret were absolutely wonderful every step of the way. If you needed help, they were there. Not only for me but for my family."

Now cancer-free, Roach, 52, knew something was wrong four years ago.

"Leading up to the actual diagnosis, I had not been well. It was a very slow process," said Roach, ironically, a health and safety co-ordinator for a Loblaws distribution centre in Mississauga.

"You know your body and you know when things aren't right. Progressively, things got worse. I wasn't eating properly. Foods would react a certain way. I couldn't sleep. I had a battery of tests and they couldn't find anything that was wrong."

Roach's family doctor eventually sent him to the Rudd Clinic, a renowned centre in downtown Toronto specializing in colon and rectal problems.

He went in for tests on the August long weekend. By the Tuesday, he had been diagnosed with a cancerous tumour and began treatments at Princess Margaret immediately.

Roach underwent chemotherapy and radiation and when those failed to produce optimum results, had surgery.

His recovery was gruelling.

"Even though I wasn't well, I wasn't feeling too badly but over the next two months, I lost 50 pounds. I couldn't get out of bed. I couldn't dress myself. My wife had to literally take care of me like I was a baby," he said.

"Things kind of took on a dream-like state. There was no distinction between night and day or one day to the next. It became a nightmare."

Because Roach couldn't eat for a long stretch at one point, his family and doctors feared he may not make it, although they never shared their concerns with him at the time.

Roach, on the other hand, was convinced he would recover.

"No matter how bad things got, I always knew I would get better," he said.

"My doctors said 'You can recover from this.' I thought if they believe it, I believe it."

For the last several months, Roach has been training for the ride by running, cross-training and cycling.

He is looking forward to the event, both as a way of raising money for Princess Margaret and setting a personal goal for himself.

"Like most people doing the ride, it is to raise money for Princess Margaret. For me personally, it is a challenge," he said.

"Before I was ill, I was very active. I would cycle and run and did marathons. I want to prove to myself, more than anything else, I can do it again."

To support Roach's ride, visit www.conquercancer.ca or call 1-877-699-BIKE (2453). Use his identification number, 542959-8, to donate to his campaign.