BODY SLAM CANCER on November 4th & 5th

My husband Rick planted the seeds for the first Cancer Takedown event in early 2022. He had been dealing with two cancers. Kidney cancer diagnosed in 2018, which had already spread at diagnosis. Then, in 2021, a second and separate cancer diagnosis of CNS (brain) lymphoma.  

Rick faced every type of treatment they could throw at him. Radiation, immunotherapy, surgery, chemotherapy and finally a stem cell transplant. We spent too much time in too many hospitals and saw so many people doing the same thing. Rick was inspired to give back, saying “We need to do something BIG for cancer patients.”

We called it Cancer Takedown.  

Cancer, like it most often does, threw us for a loop. What began as weeks and months turned into years. Seven years of poking and prodding and scanning and waiting and wondering and worrying. And it’s still going. The physical battle of cancer is extremely tough. We had no idea the mental battle would be even tougher.   

That’s why our mission with Cancer Takedown is to bring attention to the mental and emotional burden of cancer. 

Let’s talk more about the human side of cancer. What having cancer feels like. The unpredictable roller coaster of emotions; the struggles, the optimism, the dread, the darkness, the hope. Cancer Takedown is a spirit-raiser. It takes the reality of this emotional roller coaster and meets it with an uplifting, hopeful experience fueled by the power of music, humour and storytelling. Ultimately uniting people through shared experience. 

If we can create events and spaces where people talk about how they feel and what they need; we can build more understanding, empathy and mental health support for those living with cancer. And for their partners, families and caregivers as well.

What started as a one-off event evolved into a brand committed to sharing the burden of the cancer experience. This is an event for people going through cancer, for people who have come out the other side, for those that rally around them. This is community. This is camaraderie. This is Cancer Takedown. 

Amy Kemp
Co-Founder, Cancer Takedown

November 4, Flato Academy Theatre, Lindsay

https://www.flatoacademytheatre.com/whats-on/cancer-takedown-2025

November 5, Market Hall, Peterborough

https://tickets.markethall.org/eventperformances.asp?evt=506