Pointe-Claire native Shaunna Burke says reaching the top of Mount Everest in May was one of the most meaningful moments in her life. It came two years after being diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. “The future did look dark at one point, very dark,” she says after the diagnosis. “I didn’t know if I’d ever had the chance to come back to the mountains.” The McGill graduate first climbed the world’s highest mountain 21 years ago. She was the second Canadian woman to do so. Burke is now an associate professor at Leeds University in the United Kingdom, where she lives. Her area of research is exercise and cancer. When facing her terminal illness, she became her own case study, subjecting herself to one of the most difficult physical challenges on earth. Two people died on the same route she took, days before she reached the top. “I think ultimately my cancer diagnosis has really taught me to face into mortality and to come to peace with death and dying,” said Burke. “I think that really helped me on the mountain, because there’s high risk when you go on Everest.” Before her climb, Burke did chemo, radiation and eventually had her ovaries removed. Throughout treatment, she continued to prepare. “I maintained exercise throughout all the treatments that I had, I continued throughout my journey. I ran to my chemotherapy sessions, I had my chemo infusion, and then I would walk home.” The experienced climber shared every step of her trek on Instagram with the username dying to climb. She shared what it’s like to summit, including risky days where she wasn’t sure if it was possible. The account has more than 10,000 followers, many of whom reached out to share their own cancer story. “I felt like I was climbing the mountain not just for me, but for them as well. And so it was just quite a meaningful moment to be on the top,” she said. Burke dedicated her climb to people who have been touched by cancer, continuing to raise funds for cancer support in the UK, with the ultimate goal to inspire others, no matter what stands in their way.
