Help us help others! 

The British Columbia Lymphedema Association (BCLA) is a charity run by volunteers whose mission is to promote healthy and hopeful living for people with lymphatic disorders in BC. We advocate for patients with lymphatic disorders to have medical access to early diagnosis, education and compression in all BC health regions. Over 132,000 people in BC are seriously impacted by lymphedema and many of these people find it difficult to get a diagnosis and treatment.

In honour of World Lymphedema Day, we’re proud to launch our 50/50 and Art Raffle Draw beginning Friday, March 6th at 6:00pm at the Victoria Legislature.

This initiative is more than a fundraiser — it’s an opportunity to raise awareness, build community, and support those affected by lymphedema.

Participants can enter for a chance to win:
✨ A cash prize through our 50/50 draw
✨ A special prize draw featuring artwork by artist and influencer Tina Martel / Beyond the Image

The raffle will run through to Sunday, May 10th, with the final draw taking place from 11:00am–1:00pm at Right Fit Clinic in Langford.

Funds raised by this raffle will be used to fund Lymphedema Therapist Educational Bursaries funded by the BCLA!

Join us in spreading awareness, supporting an important cause, and celebrating community — all while having a chance to win something truly special.

If you are unable to participate due to living outside of BC, Canada , PLEASE CONSIDER making a donation: https://bclymph.org/Donate-to-BCLA


Tina Martel and Beyond the Image.

Kintsugi is the Japanese philosophy of gilding the cracks of broken ceramics thus making them more beautiful by virtue of highlighting the flaws instead of disposing of the vessel! It is the perfect metaphor for those of us who have survived cancer with our much-changed bodies. We gilded my scars and brought out the camera, recording both the beauty and the terror of a diagnosis. The image featured here is only one of the many, multi layered ones that were created. 

My background is over two decades teaching Fine Arts post secondary and three of being a practicing professional  artist. I worked with the team of Beyond the Image in Victoria to create a multitude of images to show the complexities of my cancer patient/survivor life. The concept for this photoshoot was mine but the work is collaborative.  


In their words:

    “Created in collaboration with cancer survivor Tina Martel, this Kintsugi-inspired portrait series uses raw black-and-white imagery with gold-painted scars to honour healing. We’re honoured to have collaborated on this powerful project.”


    I am thrilled to have the opportunity to unveil this image in support of the B.C. Lymphedema Association fundraising campaign for 2026. It is particularly important as I have lymphedema from both breast cancer and a parotid/salivary gland cancer. I understand first hand how the challenges involved in managing this condition.


Photography: Beyond The Image 

Makeup (face/body + gold): Erin Bradley

Posing Coach: Jessica Young

Styling/Props: Lori Fortune 

Video: Avi Bujhawan

Model/concept: Tina Martel

http://notinthepink.ca

http://www.tinamartel.com

http://www.bclymph.org