Imagine: The unthinkable happens. You’ve been diagnosed with cancer. Your first day visiting the cancer chemotherapy clinic is one of the scariest of your life. You finally find a spot in the hospital parking garage and trudge toward the pay station. There, a silver-haired woman stands below a sign: “Happy birthday to me. Your parking is free.”

Krystyna Locke was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2004. It returned in a more aggressive form in 2023. She underwent a full round of chemotherapy, and doctors declared her cancer-free. But she learned firsthand that cancer patients—traveling to specialists and in and out of hospitals—face an average of nearly $33,000 in out-of-pocket costs in their lifetime. Even in Canada, where health insurance is free. She knew everyone she met in the clinic was still struggling with those costs. “When I was done my treatments, I just felt like I needed to do something morel.”

Locke launched a yearlong bottle drive, collecting empties from anyone who would listen. She raised $3,700. Then, she teamed up with Ontario’s London Health Sciences Centre hospital to create a fundraising page on its website. She said all she wanted for her birthday was to pay for parking for as many patients as possible.

“I wanted to do something that would directly go to the patient. And what better way than covering their parking for the day?” —Krystyna Locke

Why parking? Locke explains that over two decades in the cancer clinic, she struck up many conversations. “The common theme was how long we’re waiting. We know that that means our parking is going to cost more.”

On her special day in 2025, Locke arrived at the local hospital parking garage with 250 vouchers. This is the second year of her generous tradition. “It’s something I would like to continue to do yearly, for my birthday.”

Giving away more than parking passes

Locke explains that when you’re diagnosed with cancer, “You have no idea if you’re going to even survive the next year.” And then you begin treatment. “Walking into the cancer clinic, especially for the first time, you’re terrified, you are anxious, it’s unknown, and the carpet’s been ripped out from under your feet.”

So she cherished showing up for the patients. “They’re walking very heavy because they’re carrying a burden, right? And when they saw my sign, they would walk up to me and, right away, a big smile on their face and they were so thankful.”

Then they learned that the woman paying for their parking was a cancer survivor. And with that knowledge came hope. “I received hugs. I received kisses on the cheek.” And there’s more: “I shared tears with people. I shared laughter.”

One year ago, Locke wasn’t sure she’d get a 63rd birthday. She had every right to be selfish for a day. Instead, she spent the day giving back. You can see this hero interviewed in the video below: