Kim and Lindsay Pirie consistently train and raise money for cancer research. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

making a difference

‘I’m making a pledge of $50,000:’ wife’s cancer death inspires Nanaimo man to give

Jun 14, 2024 | 11:25 AM

NANAIMO — He had not ridden a bike since last century, now he’s donating tens of thousands toward cancer research.

Overlooking the manicured garden designed by his late wife who succumbed to cancer, Kim Pirie of Nanaimo is preparing for his second consecutive Tour de Cure, a key BC Cancer Foundation fundraising initiative.

Last year Pirie’s team raised more than $17,000 for their debut in the 200 kilometre cycling event held over two days between Cloverdale and Hope last August, and hopes to generate three times the amount this time around.

When his wife died nearly two years ago following an eight-and-a-half year battle with multiple cancer diagnoses, fighting the disease became a top priority in Pirie’s life.

“This came up after my wife’s death. First thing one was to accept it, second thing was to decide there is a life now and decide what purpose I was going to have,” Pirie told NanaimoNewsNOW.

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Brenda Pirie was told she had breast cancer in 2016, while her husband was struck with how swift the health system reacted.

“They diagnosed it, a doctor was on the phone at 10 o’clock that night discussing it with her, this was a Friday night. The surgery was scheduled, after the initial consult surgery was done within four weeks, there was no wait.”

Successful chemotherapy and radiation treatments followed, as did several vacations abroad as the couple had a heightened appreciation of life.

However, lung cancer returned in 2017 following a diagnosis a year prior.

Specialists telling the Pirie’s the grim news they could slow it down, but not stop it.

She died at the age of 64 at home as she wished in August 2022.

Brenda PIrie’s ashes were placed in her beloved garden in the front yard of the familiy’s Cinnabar Valley home. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

When B.C.’s health minister Adrian Dix announced last year a concept plan for a new cancer centre in Nanaimo had been approved, Pirie decided to act.

“At that point I said I’m making a pledge of $50,000 toward that cancer centre, that’s $10,000 a year for five years.”

He said a second $10,000 donation to the BC Cancer Foundation is pending, on top of a previous $10,000 he supplied following his wife’s death.

According to BC Cancer, over 30,000 British Columbians are diagnosed each year, with nearly 11,000 people province-wide dying from the disease in 2021.

The lifetime risk of a British Columbian being diagnosed with cancer is 50 per cent, accounting for nearly a quarter of all deaths in the province.

Adamantly stating “research is the key”, Pirie said hopefully the time is near where treatments won’t be as necessary.

“One of my wife’s oncologists, a fella in his maybe early 50’s a few years ago looked at me and said, ‘I know we will find a cure for cancer in my lifetime, it’s just a matter of research and making it happen.'”

Brenda Pirie passed away with her family by her side. (BC Cancer Foundation)

Pirie’s daughter Lindsay is a registered nurse at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, who was drawn to the health sector in part due to her mother’s health struggles.

She’s also entering her second Tour de Cure, taking place on August 24 and 25.

“People may wonder ‘why do these big events? Why not just donate?’, but it’s also very goal-oriented, you get physically in shape, its been a very good experience,” she said.

The Pirie family cancer-fighting efforts are rounded out by Lindsay’s brother Brad, who lives in Iqaluit.

People interested in joining the Piries Tour de Cure cycling team can do so by reaching out to Kim at: kim.pirie@hubinternational.com, while donations to Kim Pirie’s team can be made here.

Kim and Lindsay in front of a little library dedicated to Brenda Pirie. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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Ian.holmes@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes