Author: Holley Stuart
Diagnosis: Lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma
Age of diagnosis: 16

In May 2025, I embarked on a unique adventure hosted by the On the Tip of the Toes (Sur la Pointe des Pieds) Foundation, which has been offering therapeutic adventures to young people living with cancer since 1996. Each year, they organize several expeditions designed to support healing the mind, heart, and soul.

I had the privilege of participating in the 79th expedition, a four-day, off-grid canoe trip on the Poisson Blanc (White Fish) Reservoir in Quebec. Our group hailed from various parts of Canada: six from Quebec, one from Alberta, one from British Columbia, and me from Ontario. This bilingual (English/French) voyageur canoe trip included nine participants and nine expedition team members who made the experience unforgettable.

This adventure was truly transformative

The expedition team members took care of every detail, including delicious meals, proper campsites, transportation for our belongings, and the necessary medical support. They also blogged our adventures and supported our mental health by encouraging us to share and listen to each other, as well as giving us time to journal.

Before the trip, my emotions were on a rollercoaster—excited, nervous, and unsure of what to expect. The experience was also phone-free, which in this day and age is hard when our phones are always with us. But without our devices to distract us, we were able to truly connect with each other and the world around us. My adventure began on a Wednesday, when I took my first airplane trip without my family to meet my team, people whom, up until that point, I had only met online. Thursday morning, we headed to base camp to prep our belongings with the items provided by the organization. Over the next few days, we shared our cancer journeys, learned about each other’s interests, joked, sang (a lot), and played games. 

The Poisson Blanc Reservoir is breathtaking with calm, dark waters and hilly mountains covered in various shades of green. The reservoir is dotted with numerous small islands, some of which are campsites, while others remain untouched. The view seemed to stretch for kilometers.

During the day, we canoed the reservoir to our lunch location and then to our evening campsite. Some highlights: singing songs in the boat, tossing the ball around at lunch, waking up others to the song “Hotel California,” and engaging in many conversations. At night, we enjoyed campfires, playing the Loup-Garou game and reflecting on our day. 

This adventure was truly transformative. I highly recommend it to others seeking a unique and healing experience.

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