Author and inspirational speaker Glenda Standeven will be at the Cariboo Regional District Williams Lake Library on Oct. 4 from 7 to 8 p.m. to share light-hearted excerpts from her story in the book Choosing to Smile, which she co-authored with two friends.
She will be sharing her choosing to smile message at many non-profit groups over her two-week tour in Williams Lake.
Glenda, a former resident of Williams Lake, feels she has a good reason to smile — she is a 25-year bone cancer survivor who lost her entire right leg, including her hip and pelvis, to the disease in 1988. She describes herself as a “cancer thriver’’ not just a cancer survivor.
Glenda and her husband Rick resided in Williams Lake in the early ‘80’s before moving back to their hometown of Chilliwack, B.C.
Both are excited to be returning to Williams Lake to do some visiting, speaking and promoting the book Choosing to Smile along the way. Standeven smiles as she says, “My husband Rick proposed to me during the Stampede Weekend in 1981, so Williams Lake holds some special memories for both of us.”
Choosing to Smile chronicles the life stories of three friends before, during and after their respective cancer diagnoses.
Their book is meant to offer an insight into the life of a person dealing with any type of adversity and to also help others recognize that cancer does not define a person.
“We have people of all ages, both men and women, who have read and loved our book. It’s not just for cancer patients. It’s a book that one reviewer described as ‘encompassing the wholeness of life,’ which we think is a very apt description.” says Standeven.
Standeven also says laughter and a positive attitude has helped her deal with not just cancer but all of life’s many challenges.
“When people look at me the first thing I want them to notice is that I’m smiling not that I’m using crutches and have one leg.”
She and her husband have been married for 30 years and have two grown sons. Standeven is well-known as an inspirational speaker and presenter of a Smoking Awareness Program for Teens.
“I have a mission and a goal to help other people through tough times by sharing my life story openly and honestly.” says Standeven with a smile.
Their book is available on Kindle Amazon, at Coles, Indigo and Chapters stores across Canada, and at www.choosingtosmile.com.