Breast cancer survivor creates unique video to share story, raise funds

CTV Atlantic: Unique fundraiser draws attention Meet a breast cancer survivor who has come up with a unique fundraiser for a cause near and dear to her heart.

One in nine Canadian women is expected to develop breast cancer during her lifetime. One Maritime breast cancer survivor is sharing her story and doing what she can to help raise awareness about the disease.

Patsy MacDonald was diagnosed with breast cancer three years ago. After a double mastectomy and immediate reconstruction, she is now in remission.

MacDonald says she sees herself as more of a cancer badass, than as a cancer survivor. She recently posted a video on social media in which she shares her experience of getting two flower tattoos over her new breasts.

“I’m trying to turn it around and do something positive with it,” says MacDonald. “I wasn’t necessarily trying to cover up the scars, I just wanted to make them more pretty.”

MacDonald says getting the tattoos helped her to express herself in a way that made her feel excited about how she looked.

Halifax tattoo artist Amber Thorpe has tattooed many cancer survivors and people with battle scars, but she says MacDonald is unique.

“Obviously, taking your shirt off and exposing your chest is something that we don’t normally do as women, so her doing this, it’s full on freedom. I’m totally happy for her,” says Thorpe.

MacDonald says the main reason she is sharing her story is to give back to those who helped her.

In less than 60 days, she hopes to raise $100,000 for the IWK Health Centre and the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

“I thought, why not go big? Why not reach for a really big goal and try to get it,” says MacDonald.

Elizabeth Smith of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation says she has never seen an individual with such an ambitious fundraising goal.

“This is definitely a first and Patsy is a dynamic person, she’s just somebody you warm up to immediately and I wouldn’t put anything past her,” says Elizabeth Smith of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

MacDonald’s video has been on the web for less than a week, but she has already been contacted by a number of people who were moved by her story.

“If I’m putting myself out there, they feel they can get more open and feel like they own a bit more of their experience,” says MacDonald.

Thorpe says it is MacDonald’s attitude that makes all the difference.

“She went through something a lot of people could really have a hard time with and she overcame it through a lot of positivity,” says Thorpe.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Amanda Debison