Trees for Health – Now it’s Personal
Mike Hurley and his daughter Victoria
November 3rd, 2023 is not a significant date for most. For us at Trees for Life, it was the final planting event of a busy fall season that finally saw us return to pre-pandemic participation levels. We had two great events that day, (shout out to our sponsors AGF and Harrington & Associates that helped make those happen!), that were tied to our Trees for Heroes program and specifically the Trees for Health movement. We were joined by representatives from nearby Southlake Regional Health facility and Dr. Sujane Kandasamy, Co-founder of PEACH Health Ontario, Health Research Methodologist & Public Health Researcher.
My oldest daughter, Victoria had joined me that day. Two days earlier was “take your kids to work day” but this was close enough for us. It was a great day and I couldn’t have picked a better way to cap off a successful fall planting season. However, nothing could have ever prepared me for the phone call that would come that afternoon….
It was my family doctor.
“We have your test results and there are some things here that are rather concerning,” he said. Little did I know that this call was just the first of a series of calls, appointments, procedures, consultations, you name it, that would take place in the ensuing days, weeks, and months. Less than one week after receiving that call, our greatest fears were confirmed and I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Receiving news of this kind is a shock to the system, to say the least. It causes one to take stock of what is REALLY important in life and inevitably, you begin to think about what your legacy will look like. For me, Trees for Life is a massive part of my legacy and that is exactly why I decided not to take any significant time away from work for the foreseeable future. Now, my work at Trees for Life is more important than ever and what we are doing with the Trees for Health initiative has become that much closer to my heart.
I have finished twelve rounds of chemotherapy and while I am not out of the woods by any stretch of the imagination, I feel great, have plenty of energy, and continue to live the active lifestyle that I have come to love. I’m not going anywhere, anytime soon.
I have experienced a wide range of emotions in the last six months, but one thing I have never felt is alone. I have the incredible and unwavering support of family, friends, a phenomenal team of coworkers, and even some new friends I’ve made along this journey. But one group that truly goes that extra mile to make sure I know there is a massive team of people in my corner are the doctors and healthcare workers who have dedicated their lives to making others better.
My life is being extended and the quality of life I am being given is greatly enhanced. This is all thanks to the absolute heroes that work in our healthcare system. It is thanks to them that three young children and a loving wife get to spend even more time with their Dad and husband. How does one even begin to say thanks for something like this?
Trees. The answer is and always has been trees.
Trees are a “thank you” that keeps on thanking, providing their benefits for generations to come. They beautify our neighbourhoods and enhance the spaces where we work and play. They serve as living tributes and legacies for those who helped make it possible. And further, they return a myriad of tangible health benefits to us. I could not think of a better way to say thank you to those who work in the health sector, than through an act that has actual health benefits in itself, especially when planted near healthcare facilities.
With over 22,000 trees planted to date, the Trees for Health movement is just starting. The appetite to plant more trees on and near health facility grounds is growing with many across the country contacting Trees for Life to see how they can get involved and green up their spaces. Communities are showing an increased interest in creating their own Hero Forests, which include tributes to local healthcare workers.
And to unlock the full potential of the Trees for Health movement, we need your help and continued support. Please consider donating today. Your annual, or monthly recurring gifts will help us create more Trees for Health plantings across Canada.
The outpouring of love and appreciation for those who work in the health sector was arguably at the highest level ever seen during pandemic times – understandably and deservedly so, but in the post-pandemic times, how quickly we have moved on.
After spending years building a living monument to our military heroes, I was reminded time and time again, lest we forget, and I think the same should hold for those who serve our country in a different uniform – that of a healthcare professional. Just like our Armed Forces personnel, our healthcare providers are not just there for us in a time of great need, or a pandemic, they are there to protect us EVERY SINGLE DAY. The jobs are not glamourous, they are rarely publicly recognized for their work, yet they are essential to enabling the rest of us to live our best possible lives.
Mike Hurley, TCS Waterfront Marathon 2023
As one might have expected, the idea for the Trees for Health concept was inspired during the pandemic, but this is about so much more than just that. Now, it’s personal.
Let’s say thank you to our healthcare heroes and tree up our communities in the process.
Mike Hurley
Executive Director, Trees for Life
P.S. I am training with our team The Acorns, to achieve my personal best in the Canada Running Series, TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon 5K, this October. Stay tuned for more information on how you can participate too.