Soon after learning her mother had Alzheimer’s, Stephanie FAUQUIER’07 wanted to do something significant to honour her and raise awareness of the disease.
She set out to swim, cycle and run over 500 kilometres in 10 triathlons across Canada this year between May and September, in support of research at the University of Toronto’s Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases.
While she didn’t expect to break her toe coming out of the water in her first Race with Steph triathlon—a Half Ironman in Victoria, B.C., which she finished despite the injury—it was a symbolic start to the campaign.
“It was just a setback, and part of endurance sports,” says Stephanie, who continued working in her role as director of strategy at TELUS Health while training and competing in every Canadian province throughout the summer. She shifted her scheduled New Brunswick race from June to August to give her toe time to heal.
“It’s also reflective of life. I wasn’t expecting my mom to get Alzheimer’s. When she was diagnosed, I was devastated. But that doesn’t mean it’s the end.”
Stephanie hopes to turn a negative into a positive through Race with Steph—by sparking conversation, building community and uniting Canadians in the fight against Alzheimer’s.
“We don’t talk about it enough, and I think it’s because it’s a terminal illness—we like comeback stories a lot more,” she says. “I wanted to celebrate her and other Canadians, and put a face to this terrible disease. I decided this wasn’t going to be my mom’s last chapter, but her next one.”
When not cheering at Stephanie’s races, her mother, Robin McLeod, finds joy in art classes and spending time with Stephanie, her sister Claire and their father and Robin’s husband John Fauquier, while receiving family care.
“You can see how sweet she is at her core,” says Stephanie. “I think we need to give lots of love, kindness and support to people who have dementia and Alzheimer’s, because it must be terrifying to have your faculties betraying you.”
Stephanie has long been inspired by her mother’s career. A world-renowned surgeon, Robin served as professor of surgery as well as of health policy management and evaluation at the University of Toronto, and as senior investigator at Mount Sinai Hospital. She was also president of the Canadian Association of General Surgeons and the American Surgical Association, and vice-president of clinical programs and quality initiatives at Cancer Care Ontario. She was made an Officer of the Order of Canada for her pioneering work in medicine and education.
“She was so loving,” Stephanie remembers. “Even though she had this demanding career, she did these amazing things. She made my lunch every day. She made every Halloween costume.”
Robin also taught Stephanie to set high expectations and go after big goals—skills her Branksome Hall experience helped solidify.
“Branksome gave me the support structure to be myself and figure out what I wanted,” says Stephanie. “Then it helped me build a strong foundation to excel in everything going forward.”
Race with Steph is a prime example. After completing all 10 triathlons, Stephanie surpassed her original fundraising goal of $250,000 to support Alzheimer’s research at the Tanz Centre. At last count, blessed with a matching donation, the fund creating the Dr. Robin McLeod Research Scholarships stood at $610,000 and rising. The money will fund one to four graduate students each year at the Tanz Centre, known for its world-leading work on new diagnostic approaches, drug therapies and research into the genetic origins of the disease. (To learn more, go to racewithsteph.com.)
As Alzheimer’s disproportionately affects women, another important aspect of Race with Steph is to encourage women across the country to embrace a healthy and active lifestyle. While Stephanie’s mother was athletic and ate well, unhealthy eating and fitness habits are major risk factors in developing dementia—with brain changes thought to begin up to decades before symptoms appear.
“If you think about that,” says Stephanie, “this is a disease of your forties and fifties. And there are things you can do to reduce your risk, like being active and eating well.”
As she’s been swimming, cycling and running, Stephanie has also tapped into the power of endurance sport—intimately feeling how every small step, cycle or stroke is strengthening her connection to her country. And with every race, every shared story and every conversation about the isolation and shame those with Alzheimer’s often feel, Stephanie has channelled her grief into a powerful next chapter for both mother and daughter.
