The Fight To End Cancer (FTEC) is about more than a single night of fundraising or a boxing match in the ring. It’s about stories—real, raw, and inspiring stories like that of Liz Cairns, a mother, fighter, and now a fearless voice in the battle against one of the most misunderstood diseases of our time.

Mitchell Cairns, official FTEC2023 fighter – announced the winner!

Liz’s journey with FTEC began not as a fighter herself, but as a proud and nervous mother. In 2023, her son, Mitchell Cairns, stepped into the ring as one of our official fighters. Like any mother would, Liz spent the lead-up to the gala filled with worry—hoping he would make it through his fight safely. But what she witnessed instead was transformation: Mitchell’s dedication, strength, and purpose through the FTEC journey moved Liz and her family to become even more involved. With close friends, Liz and her husband launched a new fundraising initiative, Golf To End Cancer, raising $7,500 for cancer research at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre.

“We were proud to be part of something that could help others,” Liz recalls.

But just weeks after that successful event in May 2024, Liz herself became one of those “others.”

A small, seemingly harmless cough spiralled into a devastating diagnosis. A mass in her right lung. Initially communicated as 0.8 mm, the reality was much more severe: it was 8 centimetres. An emergency CT confirmed the tumour’s size, and Liz’s world shifted on its axis. Despite never having smoked, Liz was blindsided by the news.

“That weekend was one of the darkest of my life. I felt like I was slipping underwater, overwhelmed by fear and uncertainty,” she writes.

“But I’ve always been someone who takes action.”

Overwhelmed but action-oriented, Liz sought care through LungRAMP online, a rapid-assessment clinic at Toronto General Hospital. Within 24 hours of her referral, she had a surgical consultation and an MRI booked. But the hardest blow was yet to come: the brain scan revealed six lesions. With no symptoms—no headaches, no dizziness—it was almost inconceivable. Liz turned to cutting-edge treatments, bolstered by her determination and the support of her family and friends.

“But there is hope. Research is advancing. Therapies are improving. Lives are being extended. Ten years ago, someone like me might not have had more than a few months. Now, with targeted treatments, patients with EGFR mutations can live potentially years longer with good quality of life. That is progress—and it’s made possible by people like you.”

Finding Her Strength in the Fight

The custom-fitted mesh mask used for cancer treatments is called a radiation mask or a thermoplastic mask. These masks are made of a plastic mesh material that is custom-shaped to fit the patient’s face and neck.

From that moment, the pace was relentless. Liz underwent Gamma Knife radiosurgery—three hours under a machine over two days, her head secured in a custom-fitted mesh mask. She asked for music to mark time, and one song in particular became her anthem: Unstoppable by Sia.

Following the brain treatment, the focus turned to the tumor in her lung. A biopsy revealed an EGFR mutation—a common marker in non-smokers with lung cancer. It was, in a way, a small piece of hope. Thanks to advancements in research, targeted therapies now offer patients like Liz a significantly better outlook. She began a regimen of targeted therapy alongside 11 rounds of chemotherapy.

“Every time I entered the oncology day unit; I looked around and felt a deep connection to the others there. We may have different cancers, different stories, but we are all in the fight.”

In line one day, she overheard a young man’s birthdate and realized he was the same age as her son. That moment lingered—one of many reminders that cancer spares no one.

Liz’s story is also a call to awareness: lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death in both Canada and the U.S., claiming more lives annually than breast, ovarian, and prostate cancers combined. And yet, it remains stigmatized, underfunded, and often misunderstood. An estimated 20% of lung cancer patients have never smoked—a number that continues to rise.

But amid the uncertainty, Liz sees hope. Treatments are improving. Research is extending lives. Just a decade ago, a diagnosis like hers might have meant just months to live. Today, thanks to progress made possible by organizations like FTEC and the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, patients with EGFR mutations can live longer, fuller lives.

In a message to FTEC Fighters, sponsors, and supporters, Liz expressed her deep gratitude.

“To the Fighters: Your training, your fundraising, and your courage are making an impact.
To the Sponsors: Thank you for believing in and supporting this cause even during uncertain economic times.
To everyone in this room: Your presence tonight supports research that saves lives.

To my friends and especially my family who have shown me never-ending support in multiple ways – I love you.

And from my family to yours—thank you.

Because defeat is not an option, I remain grateful and Unstoppable.”

A Family Fighting Together: Honouring Mitchell Cairns

Liz’s son, Mitchell Cairns, is no stranger to the fight. As an FTEC2023 Fighter, he brought grit and grace into the ring—and his contributions didn’t end there. Since that unforgettable night, Mitchell has remained an integral part of the FTEC family, offering his time, talent, and voice to support the cause year-round.

Whether working behind the scenes editing videos or joining us ringside as our official colour commentator, Mitchell’s broadcast talents elevate every Fight Night. His energy and insight help us tell the stories that matter—stories like his mother’s. Stories that move us all.

In his own words, Mitchell shared a powerful poem that reflects the deep emotional connection for why he fights!

To My Unstoppable Mom: A Daughter’s Tribute

To Liz, Mitchell, and the entire Cairns family—thank you for your strength, your vulnerability, and your unstoppable spirit.

Liz Cairns Is “Unstoppable” – A Fight Story In Her Own Words:

My connection to the Fight to End Cancer (FTEC) family began through my son Mitchell, who was one of the 2023 Fighters. That year, we attended the Gala at the Old Mill—an incredible event filled with strength, hope, and purpose. But at the time, all I could think about was him. My biggest worry was whether he would make it through his fight safely. Watching him train, fundraise, and stand tall in the ring was inspiring and emotional beyond words.

After his experience, my husband and I felt deeply compelled to continue supporting the cause. We had seen firsthand the power of community and purpose that FTEC builds. With the help of a few close friends, we created our own event: Golf to End Cancer. It was a small gathering in May 2024, but it was meaningful—and successful. We raised $7,500 for cancer research at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. We were proud to be part of something that could help others.

Little did I know that just weeks later, I would become one of those “others.”

In spring 2024, life was full. I was busy, active, and healthy—or so I thought. I had developed a small, persistent cough. It wasn’t painful, it didn’t keep me up at night, and I wasn’t short of breath, so I didn’t think much of it. After a couple of months, I saw my doctor. She wasn’t concerned—my lungs sounded clear, and she prescribed a puffer in case it was a mild irritation. But when the cough became wheezy, I returned for further evaluation.

At my insistence, she gave me a referral for an X-ray, though she believed it wasn’t urgent. She told me to wait three more weeks before filling it, sure it was a 100-day cough that would resolve. But when I finally went for the X-ray, everything changed. That afternoon, I received a call: I had a mass in my lung. She told me it was very small—0.8 mm—and not to panic. A CT scan would follow and could take up to 6 weeks.

Curious and anxious, I downloaded the X-ray report that night myself. To my shock, it didn’t say 0.8 mm. It said 8 cm. An 8 cm tumor in my upper right lung. I was completely blindsided.

I had never smoked. I had no pain. No fatigue. Just a cough.

An emergency CT at my local hospital confirmed the size and location of the tumor. I knew in that moment my life would be forever changed. That weekend was one of the darkest of my life. I felt like I was slipping underwater, overwhelmed by fear and uncertainty.

But I’ve always been someone who takes action. I needed to do something. I found LungRAMP online, a rapid assessment lung clinic at Toronto General Hospital and managed to get a referral sent to them on the Monday. By that afternoon, I had an appointment with a surgeon and an MRI scheduled. I was grateful—but still scared.

The hardest part in all of this is the waiting. The lack of control. The constant “what ifs” looping through your mind. Before meeting the surgeon, a brain MRI was ordered. I had no idea that lung cancer often spreads to the brain.

The results came back: six lesions.

I was floored. Six brain lesions—and yet I felt no symptoms. No headaches, no dizziness. Nothing. How could that be possible?

I’ll never forget the young surgeon who had to deliver the news. I could see the weight of it on his face. He told me I had Stage 4 lung cancer with brain metastases. I remember thinking: How am I going to tell my children?

From that point, everything moved quickly. My case was referred to the Princess Margaret Brain Clinic, and within a week, I was undergoing Gamma Knife radiosurgery. Over two days, I spent three hours under the machine, wearing a custom-molded mesh mask to keep my head perfectly still. You can’t move. You can’t see. You lose all sense of time. I asked them to play music—especially “Unstoppable” by Sia—so I would know when it was almost over. That song became my warrior anthem.

Once the brain lesions were treated, it was time to address the lung tumor. A biopsy confirmed I had an EGFR mutation, which is common in non-smokers with lung cancer. It was a small relief to know that targeted therapies existed for my type of cancer—and that research funded by organizations like FTEC had helped make those therapies possible.

I began targeted therapy alongside 11 rounds of chemotherapy. Every time I entered the oncology day unit; I looked around and felt a deep connection to the others there. We may have different cancers, different stories, but we are all in the fight. I remember standing behind a young man in line, hearing his birthdate and realizing he was the same age as my son. That moment stayed with me.

Lung cancer is often misunderstood. It’s the leading cause of cancer deaths in both the U.S. and Canada—killing more people annually than breast, ovarian, and prostate cancer combined. And yet, it gets less attention and funding. Many still associate it solely with smoking, but 20% of lung cancer patients have never smoked, and that number is growing. It’s a devastating disease, often detected too late—just like mine.

But there is hope. Research is advancing. Therapies are improving. Lives are being extended. Ten years ago, someone like me might not have had more than a few months. Now, with targeted treatments, patients with EGFR mutations can live potentially years longer with good quality of life. That is progress—and it’s made possible by people like you.

To the Fighters: Your training, your fundraising, and your courage are making an impact.
To the Sponsors: Thank you for believing in and supporting this cause even during uncertain economic times.
To everyone in this room: Your presence tonight supports research that saves lives.

To my friends and especially my family who have shown me never-ending support in multiple ways – I love you.

And from my family to yours—thank you.

Because defeat is not an option, I remain grateful and Unstoppable.

~ Liz Cairns

Please join us if you can in this year’s Golf to End Cancer – Sept. 18th – details on the FTEC website. Hope to see you there.

Together we can end cancer once and for all!

DEFEAT IS NOT AN OPTION!

The Fight To End Cancer (FTEC) is profoundly grateful for the unwavering support of our presenting partners: Grafton Apparel, Landscape Plus Ltd., and our newest partner, APEX Mobile Media.

About The Fight To End Cancer
The Fight To End Cancer (FTEC) is a year-round initiative driven by ambassadors, sponsors, and volunteers worldwide. Since our inception in 2012, we have donated over $3 million to the cause. Funds raised by FTEC go directly to the GTX Program at The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation. Each year, we honour the hard work and dedication of our FTEC family through alternating events: a black-tie charity boxing gala and our newest initiative, The Friday Night Fights ‘To End Cancer’. Our mission is to raise funds for cancer research year-round with the support of the local community and business owners. Together, we will end cancer in our lifetime. Learn More About The Fight To End Cancer.

About The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation
The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation at University Health Network raises funds for breakthrough research, exemplary teaching and compassionate care at Princess Margaret Hospital and its research arm, the Ontario Cancer Institute, which now includes The Campbell Family Cancer Research Institute and The Campbell Family Breast Cancer Research Institute. More information about the Foundation can be found at www.thepmcf.ca

MEET THE FIGHT TEAM

Help the Fight To End Cancer Fight Team reach their annual goal of $1 million dollars before Fight Night! Use the link below to get to know the individual team members better and support them in their Fight To End Cancer! Defeat Is NOT An Option

Sponsor A Fighter | Tickets & Event Info