For local resident Craig Armstrong, the Canadian Cancer Society's daffodil month is a very special time of the year.
Every three minutes another Canadian is faced with fighting cancer and throughout April, local volunteers worked together to raise funds for the Canadian Cancer Society.
Through the sale of daffodil pins, fresh daffodils and fundraising initiatives such as the Canadian Cancer Society's Daffodil Extravaganza event held recently at the Decker Lake Hall locals are asked to 'join the fight' against cancer.
Approximately $8,000 was raised at the event and over the past four years locals have raised $203,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society.
For Armstrong, joining the fight against cancer is a top priority.
In the fall of 2007, Armstrong was diagnosed with cancer after having a colonoscopy.
"I knew something wasn't right and I went to see Dr. Michael Purden who referred me to a specialist. I had the colonoscopy and they found a malignant growth and removed it," Armstrong said, adding that he is telling his story in the hope that his message will help others.
"Early detection is crucial and if you think something is not quite right with your body, please don't ignore it. You have to act quickly. We think it's just an ache here or a pain there and attribute it to getting older, but cancer never sleeps, it works on the body 24 hours a day. It is an insidious disease," he said.
Armstrong travelled to the Jean C. Barber Lodge in Vancouver via the Northern Health bus for a consultation. In January of 2008 he was again back at the lodge for chemotherapy and radiation treatment.
He had one week of chemotherapy which was followed by radiation the next week.
"I stayed there from January to March, which is not as long as some others have to stay ... there was no fooling around once it was discovered that I had cancer," he said.
The lodge is located across from the B.C. Cancer Agency and within walking distance to the Vancouver General Hospital.
While there Armstrong said if he felt up to it after his treatment he would go for a walk around the city or volunteer at the lodge's switchboard answering the phones.
"The Canadian Cancer Society has been great ... it was the Lakes District unit that referred me to the lodge."
In April of 2008, he had a follow up visit and since then he said he has been in good health.
"After the combination of chemotherapy and radiation I didn't have any energy and it took me a while to bounce back. By 2010 I started feeling much better and I had more energy."
He has had regular check ups and keeps in contact with the lodge.
"My message to people is that if something isn't right, don't hesitate. If you delay it and it is cancer, by the time they find out you could have stage four cancer, then you really have a battle on your hands," he said.
Since he was diagnosed with cancer, Armstrong has also been volunteering with the Canadian Cancer Society Lakes District unit. "Beginning in 2009, for three years I was the team captain of the 'Daffies team' for the Relay For Life event," he said.
During 2011 he said the team was number two for fundraising out of 14 local teams.
"My main involvement with the local Relay for Life event has been team recruitment, if the event is going to be successful you have to keep at it and get as many teams involved as possible."
"There is not going to be a local Relay for Life this year," Armstrong said, explaining that in December 2011 a decision was made to not hold the event due to a lack of local volunteers.
"In light of the Babine Forest Products sawmill tragedy that happened soon after, I think we made the right decision. There is people in the community that are hurting and that have lost jobs."
Just recently Armstrong was presented with a volunteer achievement award by the Canadian Cancer Society for his efforts over the years.
He said, "You have to think, that if it wasn't for the Canadian Cancer Society who fund cancer research … if this research didn't happen we wouldn't be getting all these advances. Hopefully one day there will be a cure."
Armstrong said he is also happy that the Kordyban Cancer Lodge in Prince George has gone ahead.
"It will really save people in the North from having to travel all the way to Vancouver for treatment," he added.