In the wake of a February 2011 diagnosis with prostate cancer, West Vancouver’s Don Konantz has continued to step up.
Later that year, every day for an eight-week period while undergoing radiation treatment, Konantz successfully ascended all 2,830 steps of the Grouse Grind. He went on to run the Berlin and Vancouver marathons in 2011 and 2012 while on a host of cancer-fighting drugs. The unstoppable force is currently immersed in training as he has his sights set on a full-course Ironman event being held July 26 in Whistler.
The married father of four has never shied away from sharing his personal story, bravely being featured in the star-studded 2014 Stand Up To Cancer Show, an hour-long telethon filmed in Los Angeles that featured the likes of Ariana Grande, Steve Carell, Melissa McCarthy and Reese Witherspoon. The show was broadcast across North America Sept. 5, 2014 and raised more than $109 million (U.S.) for cancer research.
Here at home, Konantz has continued to take an advocacy role as a means of increasing awareness of the importance of early detection of prostate cancer, and to raise funds for research related to treatment and a cure. Konantz serves as chairman of the Coalition to Cure Prostate Cancer, a research-focused agency that promotes cancer prevention and survival through a better understanding of cancer causes.
His latest endeavour is to serve as both a participant and spokesman for Prostate Cancer Canada and its upcoming Do it for Dads Step Up Challenge. The event, being held Sunday, Feb. 22, will see corporate teams of five climb the stairs of five of Vancouver’s tallest downtown office buildings, and raise a minimum of $5,000 to support research at the Vancouver Prostate Centre. Participants will climb the stairs of the Oceanic Plaza, Guinness Tower, Park Place, TD Tower and
Scotia Tower for a grand total of 5,000 feet, the approximate equivalent to completing two Grouse Grinds.
“It’s a great event, it’s going to raise some well-needed research funds for the cause and it’s going to raise awareness for men to step up for dads... and also step into action for making sure that they’re not at risk,” says Konantz, 52, who, in his professional life is the founder and a director of Colorworks, a full-service autobody company.
Konantz is pleased the funds raised from the Do it for Dads Step Up Challenge will go to the Vancouver Prostate Centre.
“This is a world-class cancer research facility that is in our community,” he says. “Men in Vancouver, in particular, and British Columbia, generally, are very well-served to have this team of people that are looking into this problem,” he adds.
According to Prostate Cancer Canada, prostate is the most common cancer affecting men and one in eight will receive a diagnosis in their lifetime.
“Prostate cancer is a very scary and can be lethal disease and it crept up on me,” says Konantz. “I was sailing along in my life, doing what normal late-40s men are doing, and this really came out of nowhere. It was just a complete shock to me.”
Married to a registered dietitian and nutritionist, and leading an incredibly active, healthy life, Konantz’s diagnosis came as a shock, particularly as his cancer was quite advanced and he had lymph-node involvement, a major cause for concern.
Konantz has since undergone surgery, radiation treatment and 38 months of cancer-fighting drugs, the latest round of which he completed and has been on a drug suspension since July 2014. In 2012, his son Willy and friends Taylor Scholz, Mikhail Zalesky and Yongku Jung raised $275,000 for the Vancouver Prostate Centre through a fundraising cycling trip, Gear West: Our Ride For Men, from Ontario to West Vancouver.
“Like everybody, I have a someday list. I have a list of things that I want to do someday. I’ve got four kids. I want to see them graduate, I want to see them celebrate the milestones in their lives as well as my own. I think the best possible example that I could give to them is to be active and face this head on and that’s what I’ve been doing,” says Konantz.
More teams are wanted for the challenge, which is open to men and women of all fitness levels. To help teams get ready, sponsor Steve Nash Fitness World Sports Club is offering training to early registrants. New teams can access hardcopy training materials also prepared by the club.
emcphee@nsnews.com
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