Terry Fox Award recipient Chelsea Mitchell sits surrounded by her family after recieving the destinction. (Alison Sandstrom/paNOW Staff)

By Alison Sandstrom

Young Leader

Chelsea Mitchell receives 2020 Terry Fox Award

Feb 25, 2021 | 6:22 PM

Nearly seven years after she was declared cancer-free, child leukemia survivor Chelsea Mitchell continues to give back.

The 19-year-old was honoured with the city’s Terry Fox Award Thursday. The destination, presented annually since 1981, celebrates a Prince Albert youth who emulates the traits and inspiration of the Canadian hero.

Mitchell said the experience of receiving the award was “a little overwhelming.”

“It’s a good feeling though,” she continued. “Just to know that what I’ve been through is being awarded with something, even though it wasn’t fun.”

Diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia at the age of 12. Mitchell spent the next year undergoing chemotherapy, radiation and eventually a stem cell transplant, before being declared cancer-free in June 2014.

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Mayor Greg Dionne presented Chelsea Mitchell with the Terry Fox Award at City Hall Thursday. (Alison Sandstrom/paNOW Staff)

Today she and her family take part in a number of fundraising activities to help others living with cancer including Silver for Gold, Relay for Life– which Mitchell was the honourary P.A. chairperson of in 2018 – and the Terry Fox Run.

Mitchell and her mother are active members of the Small but Mighty group for families who have children diagnosed with cancer. They both meet, give advice and encourage these families, speaking from their experience.

Mitchell’s father, Sheldon, said during their arduous year dealing with her diagnosis and treatment, the community stepped up. The support allowed both him and his wife to take the year off work, and the entire family to spend four months in Calgary while Mitchell received the stem cell transplant.

“The support here has been unbelievable,” Sheldon Mitchell said. “So if we can give back to anyone now, we try.”

Mitchell still deals with long-term after effects of chemo and radiation. She’s in her second year at the University of Saskatchewan pursing a bachelor of science and hopes to work in the health care field in the future.

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alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom