Twenty years ago, Hope started a new life - that's how she describes it. She took her four children and left an abusive husband, determined to improve her family's quality of life. To upgrade her education she enrolled in a night class and found that she had an aptitude for computers. This discovery gave Hope the confidence to register in the Information Systems, Computer Programing Systems Analyst program at Loyalist College, which led to a career that spanned 13 rewarding years. Then at the age of 49, married with six children, Hope decided she wanted to make a career change. "Hello Vivacious!"

Hope lives by the Pay it Forward philosophy and is deeply committed to helping others live safe and independent lives. Actively involved within the community, she was recently a guest speaker at the Poverty Challenge organized by the Child and Youth Worker students at Loyalist College. Hope and her youth group have raised over $16,000 in donations for Habitat for Humanity, the food bank and a mission in Hamilton, and she was key in organizing the final Habitat builds in Frankford and Trenton. As well, more than $7,000 was raised for Three Oaks second-stage housing through the sale of calendars - an initiative led by Hope - which featured women of strength in our community.

In October, Hope was diagnosed with stage four terminal cancer. A non-smoker, Hope has developed the lung cancer as the result of a mutant gene. Her daughter has stepped in to run Vivacious and Hope is taking one day at a time as she undergoes treatment in Oshawa.