Running in Memory of Eleanor Weins

Eleanor Weins (1954-2008)

Eleanor was not just my sister in law. She was my sister. When I moved to Alberta in 1993 and had no family of my own here, she and her husband Walter drove me all the way to Edmonton to buy my first car – a little Ford Festiva, the only thing I could afford! When I was waiting for my teaching licence to come through from Nova Scotia and had no income, she and Walter gave me a job at the business Walter managed. When my husband Brent proposed and I had no family or friends to go wedding dress shopping with, she took me. Eleanor embodied all that was good and kind and generous. Her smile and laughter would light up the room. You would rarely see her sitting – always buzzing around waiting on people, cleaning at the hospital and helping with her husband’s business.
In 2004, after months of tests and trying to determine why she wasn’t “feeling well”, Eleanor was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. I’ll never forget that phone call – “I’ve been sick for a while and the prognosis is not good”. By the time Eleanor was diagnosed, the cancer had spread around her intestines and she would need chemotherapy to try and shrink the tumor before they attempted surgery. Her first surgery left her with a colostomy and months of painful recovery. A second surgery would reverse the colostomy and it looked like she was cancer free. However, within months it was back…..with a vengeance.
Eleanor exemplified courage and strength. She had a deep faith that no matter what happened, she would be alright – in this life or the next. When I asked her if she was scared of dying she simply said, “I’m ready. I could go to sleep now and wake up in heaven.” It was the ones she would leave behind that were afraid of losing her. That’s what cancer does. It takes loved ones too soon.
The year Eleanor was diagnosed, I ran my first marathon and I decided to raise money for cancer research. I remember her saying,” It probably won’t help me, but it might help in the fight.” I think it helped me feel like I was doing something while she battled. In 2008, Eleanor lost the fight. She died at home surrounded by her husband , children, and grandchildren. She left a hole that can never be filled and yet she left us hope. Hope for a future that will someday be free from cancer. I think that’s what the Underwear Affair does for people – oh sure it’s great to get in our undies and have a great time! But it’s so much more than that. It unifies thousands of people with a common goal: To end the pain and suffering of cancers “below the belt”. Driven to protect the ones we love now and to remember the suffering of cancers “below the belt”. Driven to protect the ones we love now and to remember the ones we’ve lost.

A special "Thank you" to Saving 3rd Base team member Susan Reimer for sharing this story!