Glenda Standeven, long term amputee cancer survivor, inspirational/motivational speaker/author shares her wisdom as well as humor through both the written and spoken word.

Glenda was born in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in 1955, and moved with her family to the small town of Yarrow, BC, in 1962. She grew up as a small town farm girl with big ideas. She graduated from Chilliwack Secondary School in 1973, and moved to Alberta in 1975, where she lived and worked for the next three years. She met her future husband, Rick, in 1979, and they married in 1982. The couple had their first son, Kevin, two years later in their hometown, Chilliwack, BC, in 1984.

Five years into their marriage, Glenda was diagnosed with bone cancer. After a nine month struggle she eventually lost her entire right leg, including her hip and pelvis, to the disease in January, 1988. Despite her disability she gave birth to their second son in November, 1990, less than three years after her amputation. The 11 years following her amputation were spent facilitating a cancer support group with her friend and fellow cancer survivor, Michelle Rickaby, as well as volunteering in the community with local groups such as The Optimist Club of Chilliwack, The Terry Fox Foundation, School District 33, and the Canadian Cancer Society.

In 2009, Glenda and three friends who happen to be cancer survivors as well, decided to write a book chronicling their adventures before, during and after cancer. Unfortunately, one of the women became too ill to share her story but the book plans moved forward with Glenda, Julie, and Michelle sharing their life lessons in a book appropriately titled, ‘Choosing to Smile’.

‘Choosing to Smile’ is the attitude Glenda adopted early in her journey through her diagnosis and treatment of cancer. She has donated countless volunteer hours in her community and received numerous awards for her efforts including the prestigious Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award in 2005.

Glenda and Rick reside in Chilliwack with their son, Andrew. Their oldest son, Kevin, and his wife, Kimberly, live nearby. Glenda spends her free time delivering lively key-note speeches, traveling and presenting her unique Smoking Awareness Program for Teens to middle school students. She has written two children’s books that are currently in the process of being illustrated and is presently working on a third.