BigB Deodorant

This one goes out to the ladies AND the gents —— Check your (.)(.)‼️

Well I would definitely call this years fundraiser a smashing success!
After a 3 week campaign we raised over $45,000 in honour of our founder Samantha. And that pushes the 3 year grand total tally to more than $100,000!!!
That is $100k for Metastatic Breast Cancer research and those of us living with this incurable disease. Think of all the good that money has done and will continue to do.
I want to say a huge THANX to Team ( ) and as well to Team Brace Yourself (my mom, aunt, uncle & cousins). You all rock! As do all of the teams AND the people & businesses who donated. You are all helping to raise funds and awareness for a cause (MBC) that doesn’t receive near enough of either. AND you are also helping us (the TTPOC committee) to continue building Sam’s legacy! To ensure that all of her hard work and advocacy lives on!
As for my fellow committee members; it was a pleasure working with you all! And while I’ll give you a week or two to decompress, I have lots of ideas to float by you for next year.♥️
Please be reminded that Turning The Page will continue to accept donations through to the end of October and even after that (link in my bio). Just because the fundraiser is over doesn’t mean the work stops. So, if you’re able to donate, please do because

I am super excited to announce to all my Toronto & GTA peeps that BigB Deodorant is now available at www.kspotshop.ca in Leslieville!! The owners of this shop are two of my closest friends, and have graciously offered to help in my efforts to raise funds for Metastatic Breast Cancer research.
So, for any of you who would prefer to spend money on primo cannabis products, instead of shipping charges, be sure to swing by K’s Pot Shop and tell them Alison sent you! ✌️
And a big huge thanks to Seanie & Elisa for all of the support over the years. I love you guys! 💚

I was diagnosed in the summer of 2018 with Stage IV HER2+ ER+ PR+ Metastatic Breast Cancer. They found 3 tumors in my right breast and extensive liver metastasis (25+ lesions).
I immediately made some pretty big lifestyle changes. I went completely plant-based. I walked every single day. I took on an “it is what it is & I’ve gotta do what I’ve gotta do” attitude. And on September 11th I started immunotherapy (Herceptin & Perjeta) and 6 months of chemotherapy (Taxol for 1 month, Abraxane for 5).
I was super private with it first. I didn’t tell many people at all. I really just needed to feel things out on my own. But once I got the hang of it I told more people, and I even started a blog [ Cancer's A Bitch ] to keep friends & family updated, and to share tips & tricks that I learn(ed) along the way.
Thankfully I both tolerated & responded to treatment quite well. And by the time I completed my chemo run, there was no evidence of the 3 tumors and the liver metastasis had shrunk by more than 80%.
I continue to receive immunotherapy infusions (hormone blockers) every 3 wks, and will for as long as they continue to work & maintain the few small metastasis that are left. I also get a monthly Zoladex injection which essentially shuts my ovaries down. And I take a daily estrogen suppressant called Tamoxifen. Can we say “Hello chemically induced menopause”.🥵
It’s A LOT! But I’m one of the lucky ones who has been able to ride out their first line of treatment for 3 years (& counting ). At some point tho there will be progression and I will have to move on to my next line, and then the next and the next. And eventually I will run out of options.
And THIS is why raising funds for MBC research is so important. And why I donate 100% of the profits from BigB sales to this cause. So that one day people living with MBC won’t have to worry about hearing the words “we’re sorry, there’s nothing more we can do”.
See links in my bio to SHOP and/or DONATE. Any support is appreciated! 🖤

Pizza, yarn, bagels, cannabis, tea, books, trivia nights, lawn games, deodorant, TTPOC Merch (hoodies, t-shirts) and more!! There are so many incredible businesses donating money, points, time and services to Turning the Page on Cancer … and in turn to those of us living with Metastatic Breast Cancer.
Keep an eye on my Instagram Story Highlights for a growing list of all the different ways you can donate and shop for a cause. And you can click here for direct links to some of these as well — https://linktr.ee/bigbdeodorant.
Some businesses are donating a portion (or all) of their profits. Others are letting you donate your store points. And there are also events happening that will be donating registration fees.
The Read-a-Thon takes place on Oct 17th, so that leaves you all 8 days to help TTPOC and their fundraising teams and partners to hit (and hopefully exceed) their goals!
Huge thanks to all of you (the donors), and as well to Ottawa Bagelshop & Deli Sipology Stash & Co. - Recreational Cannabis Joe’s Italian Kitchen Indigo, Chapters and Coles Fibre Goddess and more.
It has definitely been an honour to sit on the planning committee for an initiative that brings about so much community support!

Turning the Page on Cancer’s Little Free Library (in Ottawa) is all stocked up again, just in time for . 📚

Hi 💕 it’s and we are restocked!

We have loved seeing you stop by, pick up a book, and leave books too. It warms our hearts to see Sam’s vision come to life, and the way it is bringing people together around a love of reading and advocating for the MBC community. We are so thankful.

We would love to hear what you’re reading from the library and how you’re enjoying it so far in the comments 💕📖

I’m sure by now, 5 days into your feeds have seen a tsunami of pink posts. Many of which have forewarned you of — which sadly is a real thing.
There are companies & corporations that are profiting off of a disease that kills far too many people. A disease, that once it spreads beyond the breast, becomes incurable.
That isn’t a marketing scheme. That is the cold hard truth. And BCAM needs to be more about ACTION and allocating the lions share of funds raised to the actual research & study of metastasis. As Metastatic Breast Cancer is the only breast cancer that kills.
The term Pinkwashing was coined by Breast Cancer Action as a part of their campaign. And before you buy a 🎀 product, they advise you to ask the following questions:
1. Does any money from this purchase go to support breast cancer programs? How much?
2. What organization will get the money? What will they do with the funds, and how do these programs turn the tide of the breast cancer epidemic?
3. Is there a “cap” on the amount the company will donate? Has this max donation already been met?
4. Does this purchase put you or someone you love at risk for exposure to toxins linked to breastcancer? What is the company doing to ensure that its products are not contributing to the breastcancer epidemic?
If you don’t have time to do the research but want to donate to an organization where ALL funds are allocated to Metastatic Breast Cancer, then Turning the Page on Cancer is that cause. ALL $ raised will go to Rethink Breast Cancer's MBC fund which helps people with Stage IV Breast Cancer live better & longer through advocacy, empowerment, support and research.
Click here to donate. Any support is appreciated! 🖤
https://linktr.ee/bigbdeodorant

Hey Insta friends! If you live in and around the Ottawa area, please drop by Ottawa Bagelshop & Deli on any Tuesday in October and buy a bagel … or 12 … as they have graciously committed to donate .50 from every dozen bagels sold to Turning the Page on Cancer 🥯🖤🥯🖤🥯🖤
Thanks so much to the staff at The Ottawa Bagel Shop! All of us over at Turning the Page appreciate your support in helping us to raise awareness and funds for Metastatic Breast Cancer.

I can’t think of a better reason for BigB Deodorant to come out of a (much longer than anticipated) hiatus — just in time for the kick off of the Turning the Page on Cancer fundraiser AND Breast Cancer Awareness Month!
I’m honoured to have been asked to sit on the TTPOC planning committee this year, although it is bitter sweet as we lost our beautiful founder Samantha this summer.
Sam was a force, and a huge advocate for the MBC community. And as someone living with the same disease that took Her far too soon, it’s so important to me that I step up and help to continue building her legacy and raising funds and awareness for Metastatic Breast Cancer.
The Read-A-Thon will take place on Oct 17, and all funds raised will once again go to the Rethink Breast Cancer MBC Fund.
I will be taking part again, only instead of being a one woman show I have recruited my besties — which I’m pretty stoked about. AND I will also be donating 100% of the profits from every BigB Deodorant sale to Turning The Page, throughout all of October (.)(.) Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Donate and/or shop for a cause at www.cancersabitch.com/bigbdeodorant . Any and all support is appreciated.
This one’s for you Sam! I hope we all make you proud! 💕📚