Hilda's Hope

💜 Honoring Hilda: A Celebration of Strength, Service, and Survivorship

Hildas words of encouragement for anyone newly diagnosised with cancer:
Take it one day at a time, one step at a time. And if you feel like giving up reach out to someone and dig deep to find your reason not to.

On September 19th, we gather not only to celebrate hope — but to honor a woman who embodies it. Hilda, the Light of Hope Cancer Foundation’s very first grant recipient in 2023, stands as a shining example of what courage looks like when it’s lived out loud.

When Hilda faced cancer, she faced it with the quiet determination of many family members who had already witnessed true bravery. Her aunts, Audrey Scott (Johnson), Diane Johnson, her mother, Marilyn Boomgaarden (Johnson), her cousin, Robin Maas, her sister, Holly McRae (Johnson), and her Grandma, Geraldine Abelman, whom all fought their own battles with unwavering love and resilience.

Strength became Hilda’s compass, guiding her through the hardest moments and reminding her that even in darkness, hope can be chosen.The support Hilda received from Light of Hope during her treatment didn’t just help her heal — it sparked a calling. She felt compelled to give back, to lift others the way she had been lifted, and to make sure no one walked their cancer journey alone. That calling led her to join the LOHCF committee, where she has poured her time, her heart, and her unstoppable spirit into helping others.

And then came her vision — Hilda’s Hope Ride. A ride fueled by compassion. A ride inspired by her family legacy. A ride that transforms survivorship into service.Hilda didn’t just survive cancer. She turned survivorship into leadership. She turned gratitude into action. She turned her story into a beacon for others searching for strength.

Today, we honor her not only for the battle she fought, but for the battles she continues to help others fight including her cousin, Carrie Johnson, and her father Dan Abelman, whom have recently started their cancer journeys also. Her journey reminds us that hope is not passive — it moves, it grows, it reaches, it rides forward.

Hilda, thank you for showing us what it means to rise, to give, and to lead with love.
We honor YOU — your survivorship, your service, and the hope you carry into every life you touch.