Tammy Whelen has been a tireless volunteer in the fight against cancer for more than a decade, raising funds for the hospital that saved her life and raising awareness.

Tammy - diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in 1999 at the age of 25 - is again organizing the 13th annual Road2Recovery on Oct. 12, a night of great food, music, dancing, and much more.

"When I'm at Sunnybrook I'm treated with respect, and I know the people who work here actually care," says Tammy, explaining why she still fundraises for Sunnybrook after putting in so many volunteer hours year after year.

There are other reasons, too. Coming to the Odette Cancer Centre for her annual appointments, Tammy sees patients at different stages of treatment. She says this reminds her how fortunate she is to have survived and just how important the centre's care and research is to patients.

Road2Recovery also raises cancer awareness and recognizes those who have battled the disease. "It's about acknowledging the people who have gone through cancer and about celebrating life," says Tammy, a mother of two.

To that end, this year's event will feature cancer survivors and family members participating as models in a fashion show.

"The efforts of Tammy, the event committee, and everyone else who makes Road2Recovery a success are greatly appreciated. Community support allows us to deliver a higher level of care and research," says Sunnybrook's Dr. Neil Berinstein, Tammy's oncologist and founder of the Odette Cancer Centre's Advanced Therapeutics Program.

The program, which benefits from Road2Recovery, improves outcomes for patients with lymphomas by combining novel therapies and by advancing best practices in lymphoma treatment. To learn more about the event or to volunteer, please visit road2recovery.net or email tammy@road2recovery.net.