Lingering Back Pain
Mark Di Ponio was 38 years old when he assumed he had simply “thrown out” his back while moving into a new house with his family.
At first, it seemed easy to dismiss. Mark started feeling occasional back pain that seemed like nothing more than part of normal life for a busy man approaching ‘mid-life’. Through a season of lifting boxes and hanging Christmas lights, the pain would flare up suddenly, linger for weeks, and then fade away, just long enough for him to believe it was gone for good. But when it returned after something as simple as dancing with his children, Mark realized this wasn’t normal.
X-rays and ultrasounds showed nothing unusual, but it was the MRI that revealed the truth: a mass, the size of a cell phone, wrapped around his spine. Mark was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
The Long Road Between Home and Healing
In 2012, Mark began treatment at the Windsor Regional Cancer Centre. Six rounds of chemotherapy brought his cancer into remission, and for a while, life returned to what he would call a ‘new version of normal’.
Seven years later, in 2019, cancer returned. This time, his treatment took him to London for chemotherapy and an autologous stem cell transplant. Once again, remission followed and Mark was declared cancer-free for a second time. That only lasted a year. In 2020, cancer appeared for the third time. In 2022, Mark traveled to Hamilton for CAR-T therapy, an innovative new therapy. He again was in remission, but the cancer returned after 9 months this time. Mark then began chemotherapy again to prepare for his last curative option, an allogenic stem cell transplant. In December 2022, Mark returned to Hamilton to receive his donor stem cell. Mark could not be more grateful for the generosity of his donor, which gave Mark another chance at life.
As of December 2024, he is now on his "cancer free" journey.
Each step in Mark’s journey brought hope, hardship, hotels, and exhausting trips up and down the highway. Although Mark would have traveled wherever was necessary to receive treatment, the separation from family and his home was heavy.
Grow On Windsor is a signature campaign of the Windsor Cancer Centre Foundation.
Launched in 2014, men from our community participate by disregarding their shaving regimen, and growing a beard to raise funds and awareness for local cancer care. While we love the beards, Grow On Windsor is also an opportunity for anyone to team up and raise funds through friendly competition and month long promotions.
Encourage your friends, family, and coworkers to team up and raise funds throughout the month of November. Choose fun and creative ways to encourage donations, join our Head to Head Challenge, or partner with a local organization to create month long promotions.
So what happens with the funds raised, you ask?
Now that the 4th Radiation Bunker is fully operational, we need to raise funds to upgrade the original three bunkers. These upgrades will bring in the latest technology to deliver faster, more precise, and more personalized radiation treatments.
With patient volumes continuing to grow, these advancements will allow the Windsor Regional Cancer Centre Team to meet the demand, reduce wait times, and ensure patients receive the cutting-edge care they need, when they need it most.
Your voice and passion are the driving force to make this vision a reality.
Highlights
See all activity72Grow On Windsor is a signature campaign of the Windsor Cancer Centre Foundation.
Launched in 2014, men from our community participate by disregarding their shaving regimen, and growing a beard to raise funds and awareness for local cancer care. While we love the beards, Grow On Windsor is also an opportunity for anyone to team up and raise funds through friendly competition and month long promotions.
Encourage your friends, family, and coworkers to team up and raise funds throughout the month of November. Choose fun and creative ways to encourage donations, join our Head to Head Challenge, or partner with a local organization to create month long promotions.
So what happens with the funds raised you ask?
Now that the 4th Radiation Bunker is fully operational, we need to raise funds to upgrade the original three bunkers. These upgrades will bring in th e lat est technology to deliver faster, more prec is e, and m o re personalized radiation treatments.
With patient volumes continuing to grow, these advancements will allow the Winsor Regional Cancer Centre Team to meet the demand, reduce wait times, and ensure patients receive the cutting-edge care they need, when they need it most..
$400,000 needs to be raised in order to to make this vision a reality. Your voice and passion are the driving force to kick off this campaign and make this come to fruition.
Together, let’s grow the future of local cancer care.
Frequently Asked Questions
I don't have a team, can I join the campaign on my own?
Yes! You can register as an individual and solicit donations, or you can use your personal page to create a fun and compelling fundraiser!
How can I join the head to head challenge?
Here's more information and how to join the head to head challenge.
How can I get support and ideas to raise more funds?
We are here to help! Reach out to Anita Riccio Spagnuolo by phone at 519-254-5577 Ext. 58192 or email aricciospagnuolo@windsorcancerfoundation.org
Do I need to grow a beard?
Not necessarily! While we love the beards, Grow On Windsor is also an opportunity for anyone to team up and raise funds through friendly competition and month long promotions.
Will I receive a tax receipt?
Yes - all contributions over $25.00 will receive a tax receipt.
