Cooking for a Cure: Cancer Chili Battle Draws London Crowd to Support Cancer Research

Dani Qiao

October, 2024

Chili enthusiasts came together at London Brewing Cooperative on Oct. 6 for the Cancer Chili Battle, a fundraising event aimed at supporting cancer research, particularly ovarian cancer.

The third annual Cancer Chili Battle offered attendees the chance to sample a variety of chili recipes, each prepared by local participants. In addition to tasting and voting for their favourite chili, guests enjoyed local beer, live music and participated in a silent auction.  

“It’s just really nice to see the community all coming together… The support is actuallly overwhelming,” said Diana Taylor, the organizor and sponsor of the Cancer Chili Battle. “It’s heartwarming to know that this event is making a difference.”

Diana is no stranger to cancer. A two-time cancer survivor, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and ovarian cancer. This year, she celebrated her fifth year of being cancer-free. Reflecting on her journey, she described the five-year battle with cancer as the “darkest and hardest” time to her life. She said, however, that this profound journey has instilled her “a fierce determination to give back to the community that supported me”.  

Since 2022, Diana has actively organized fundraising events in support of cancer research. She is an member of the Run for Ovarian Cancer committee and has been selected as the survivor speaker for 2024. Her husband, Don, is also involved in cancer-related fundrasing efforts. He participated in the “Ride to Conquer Cancer”, an annual event hosted by Princess Margaret Cancer Centre.

The Cancer Chili Battle has grown in both scale and impact since its first year. The event started with a total donation of $1,500, whilst this year’s fundraing goal was to raise between $8,000 to $10,000. Diana expects the event to continue expanding in the coming years. All proceeds from the event will go directly to the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, which is the largest integrated cancer research, teaching and treatment centre in Canada.

The Cancer Chili Battle had fostered deep community involvement. Most attendees were friends, neighbors, or collegues of Diana and other volunteers. For many, the Cancer Chili Battle is more than just a fundraiser – it’s an opprtunity to support loved ones affected by cancer.

“We all have known people in our lives who are affected by cancer. All of us,” said Win, an attendee. “You know those people, you’re available and you can, you should support them!”

Other shared similar sentiments. One of Diana’s colleagues, Christ, expressed, “I have five sisters. If my sister is going through that I would want somebody support them too.”

For many attendees, the event held personal significance. Most had either faced cancer personally or had friends or family members who had battled the disease. The Cancer Chili Battle brought together individuals impacted by cancer, fostering a sense of community and mutual support.

“Cancer is a huge deal. It’s a big part of everybody’s life,” said Diana. “I think a event like this bringspeople together, a chance to share with each other, because therapy is talking to one another, learning about each other’s journey.”