For Lisa Riobo, working out is one of the best ways to deal with a disease that has affected her many times over.

The 91原创-based office manager was first diagnosed with basal cell skin cancer in 2011. Five years later, her best friend was diagnosed with, and underwent surgery for, breast cancer. At the same time, her boss grappled with prostate cancer 鈥� a condition he鈥檚 now facing a second time following surgery.

With about 77,000 people facing cancer this year in B.C., Riobo鈥檚 situation is all too familiar to many.

It鈥檚 why she, alongside eight of her colleagues, have teamed up for 鈥榃orkout to Conquer Cancer鈥� 鈥� a month-long challenge where participants work out every day for the month of May to raise critical funds for cancer research and care at the BC Cancer Agency.

Their team 鈥� Waist Management 鈥� is currently the fourth most successful fundraising team in the province.

鈥淐ancer, to me, seems like this omnipotent and omnipresent entity in my life, and that makes me angry,鈥� said Riobo.

鈥淚 think that if I can get up and workout for a half hour every morning I can get some of that anger out. I feel like I鈥檓 fighting back for people who have been affected by this and I can take that out on the weights or during a run or just by motivating people around the office to do the same.鈥�

Workout to Conquer Cancer is an annual event that has raised more than $1 million since its inception in 2010, helping fuel breakthroughs in cancer research that continue to make a tangible difference in the lives of British Columbians.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a great team-building exercise and we鈥檙e all going to try and compete to raise more money and see who is going to be more successful,鈥� Riobo said.

鈥淎nd with summer coming up, it鈥檚 a great way to get in shape while supporting a worthwhile cause.鈥�

She has since created a workout schedule and a spreadsheet in preparation for the challenge, she adds, which is a good way to keep everyone accountable.

鈥淣ow, the question is 鈥� does getting out of bed count as a sit-up?鈥�

To learn more about the BC Cancer Foundation go to .