Jared Brick

Current Age: 30
Diagnosis: Germ Cell Tumor on Pineal Gland (Brain Cancer)
Age at Diagnosis: 16
Hometown: Vancouver, BC

Biography:

#1. What was the biggest issue you faced throughout your cancer journey?
The biggest issue is the chronic fatigue and sleep issues. It impairs my whole life and the doctors don’t know what is causing it or how to deal with it.

#2. Why did you sign up for the trip?
I signed up for the trip because Mikey asked me to come after hearing me speak at a young adult cancer survivor conference and also because I wanted to see if I could do it. The kayaking trip would be a challenge but I felt I had something to contribute to the group.

#3. Was it what you expected?
I expected a difficult challenge but I was surprised by how quickly the team came together to support everyone, through our struggles on the river and personally.

#4. How did the trip impact you?
The trip impacted me by pushing me beyond the limits that I thought I could deal with. It showed me that the only thing limiting me was myself, there are ways to deal with anything that comes up in our lives, we just have to be persistent enough to find them.

#5. Favorite memory in 2 sentences or less
The sense of connection I felt on the trip with the group and also being the only survivor who didn’t flip my kayak in a rapid.