Mélanie's Legacy
About Mélanie
Mélanie Chalmers refused to be defined by the cancer that took her life. Her friends and family remember her not for the way she left us – too young, and too soon – but for the way she shared with us her passion to squeeze the most out of her life.
Mélanie had the courage to choose the exceptional, and to pursue amazing experiences in the face of great personal cost and risk. This often meant exploring the far corners of the world, which she continued to do up until her final days.
What is Mélanie's Way?
In honour of Mélanie’s inspirational spirit, we (her husband, family and friends) have started Mélanie’s Way, an initiative which extends the definition of serving young women with metastatic or relapsed cancer beyond the medical arena – to focus on maximizing joy and creating customized experiences and shared memories with their loved ones. We help women to follow Mélanie’s Way by granting personalized ‘wishes’ that will create unique, joyful experiences for these women to share with those they will leave behind.
Our impact
Creating family memories at Disney World
Shannon was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012 when she was only 32 years old. She remembers the bus ride home from that appointment with a then 4 year old and 1.5 year old and she knew everything had changed. Mélanie's Way granted Shannon's wish to create a memorable experience at Disneyworld for her and her children.
A family wish to be together at a Jays game
Jennifer is a 35-year-old mother of 2 young sons who are 3 and 16 months. One year ago, and just a few months after the birth of her youngest son, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. On Jennifer's birthday, Mélanie's Way sent Jennifer and her family to a special Jay's game to create unforgettable memories.
Her dream anniversary
Sarah is 39 and happily married to Jeremiah. Sarah and Jeremiah had their dream wedding at Dreams Punta Cana in 2013. Two years later, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. In May 2018, five years after Sarah and Jeremiah’s special day, Mélanie's Way sent the couple back to the same resort to re-live the magic of their marriage and create new, precious memories on their anniversary.
Lucia's bucket list
Lucia is a 44-year old mother of 3. With a wish to live the dreams she thought she could save for later, now, Mélanie's Way sent Lucia and her family to Havana and Varadero to create memories that brought joy and comfort.
