In December 2011, on the day of her mother’s birthday, Ms. Letna Allen-Rowe was diagnosed with breast cancer, the same illness that had taken her mother’s life years earlier. Originally from Jamaica, Ms. Letna had moved to Canada in 1994 and made Scarborough her home. At 66 years old, the vibrant woman, known for her love of community and fierce spirit, was suddenly faced with the battle of her life.
Ms. Letna vowed to fight the disease head-on. Her treatment journey began at Scarborough Health Network’s (SHN) Centenary Hospital, where she had a lumpectomy, a mastectomy and a reconstruction surgery. Ms. Letna never lost hope. She took Letrozole for a year and tamoxifen for five years and in 2016 her doctors told her she was cancer-free.
“I jumped for joy and couldn’t wait to tell my husband and daughter,” she said.
During her recovery, Ms. Letna felt a deep desire to give back to the community and hospital that had supported her. “I never forgot where I was taken care of. When I was at SHN, the care was impeccable,” says Ms. Letna. “I want to give back and do an event for this hospital. If I can replace just one needle for someone else, that will mean a lot.”
With that motivation, Ms. Letna started the Healing Hope Brunch, a fundraising initiative that would support SHN’s Cancer Care Program. Together with friends and family, Ms. Letna pulled together a small but dedicated team to bring her vision to life. The first brunch took place in 2013, with every year gaining more support and community love. She has raised over $54,000 for SHN since 2013.
The next Healing Hope Brunch is set for Oct. 27, 2024. Her journey through cancer has only strengthened her passion to continue raising funds, spreading hope, and giving back to the place that helped her.
Through the Brunch, Ms. Letna shows that even in the face of adversity, there’s always room for hope, healing, and a community that rallies around you. Taking place at Sts. Peter & Paul Banquet Hall, the event will be hosted by Marcia Brown, with keynote speaker Dr. Ulana Kuwan, MD RFCSC. It will also include live performances from Dave Mclaughlin, Latoya Mullings, and more!
Purchase your tickets now at msletnahealinghope.com
