Glen’s Story
Some people leave a mark on the world simply by the way they love the people around them. Glen Adnam was one of those people.
Who Glen Was
Before the hospital rooms and hard conversations, Glen was – and will always be remembered as – a loving husband, dad, grandpa, coach, and friend. He was the steady voice on the sidelines, the first to crack a joke when things felt heavy, and the one who always made sure everyone else was okay before he even thought about himself.
Glen was known for his strength, but not the loud, showy kind. His strength was quiet and constant, woven into the way he worked, the way he cheered people on, and the way he showed up for his family day after day. He had a way of making people feel seen and safe – whether you were one of his players, a neighbour, a coworker, or someone sitting at his kitchen table with a cup of coffee.
He loved big. He loved his wife, his children, and his grandchildren with his whole heart. He loved his community, too, giving his time and his energy wherever he could. That is how most of us remember him: on a field or in a rink, leaning in with that familiar mix of encouragement, humour, and quiet determination.
His Diagnosis
In 2019, Glen heard the words no one ever wants to hear: tonsil squamous cell carcinoma. At first, there was hope that treatment would give them time – time to adjust, time to plan, time to breathe. But cancer does not always follow the plans we make. Within a short period, it had spread to his bones and liver, moving far more quickly than anyone was prepared for.
Those days were a blur of appointments, scans, new medications, and impossible choices. Glen and his family were suddenly living in a world of waiting rooms and test results, trying to hold on to normal life while everything around them was changing. They learned, in the hardest way, how overwhelming and isolating a cancer diagnosis can feel – even when you have people who love you.
Still, even as his body grew weaker, Glen’s spirit showed up the way it always had. He worried more about how everyone else was doing than about himself. He held on to his humour, his warmth, and his deep love for his family as long as he possibly could.
His Wife, His Rock
Through every appointment, every sleepless night, and every hard conversation, Glen’s wife was right there beside him. She was his steady hand, his quiet courage, and his safe place to land when the weight of it all felt unbearable. She organized, advocated, listened, and held on tightly to the man she loved, even as she was slowly being asked to let him go.
She stayed with him through each stage of his illness, never pulling away from the hardest moments. When breathing became difficult and words grew fewer, her presence spoke for both of them. She held his hand as he took his final breath, surrounding him with the same love that had filled their life together – a love that brought comfort not only to Glen, but to their children, grandchildren, and everyone who cherished them.
Her strength did not look like having all the answers. It looked like showing up, again and again, with tenderness, patience, and unwavering commitment. In many ways, the foundation that carries Glen’s name is also a tribute to her – to the quiet, powerful love of a caregiver who gives everything so that someone they love does not feel alone.
The Foundation
The Glen Adnam Cancer Comfort Basket Foundation was born out of deep grief and even deeper love. After losing her dad, Glen’s daughter, Kennedy Tessier, carried both the ache of missing him and the memories of the kindness that had defined his life. She knew, as so many families do, how lonely and disorienting a cancer journey can feel – and she wanted to do something that would wrap others in the kind of care her dad had always shown.
What began as a simple idea – a basket filled with small comforts and reminders that someone cares – grew into a mission. The foundation exists to make sure that no one facing cancer feels forgotten or left to walk that road alone. Through comfort baskets and thoughtful gestures, it offers encouragement and practical support to patients, caregivers, families, and healthcare teams across Saskatchewan, with a special focus on Southeast Saskatchewan, where Glen’s roots run deep.
Every basket is more than a collection of items. It is a hug in physical form, a way of saying, “We see you. We’re with you. You matter.” It is one small way of turning heartbreak into hope – the kind of hope Glen himself would have offered to others, without hesitation.
Carrying His Love Forward
Glen showed us what it means to love fiercely and show up for others. This foundation is our way of carrying that forward – one comfort basket at a time. Each act of kindness, each family we are able to reach, is a testament to the man he was and the love he left behind.
If you feel moved by Glen’s story, we invite you to be part of this mission – whether by sharing his story, supporting the work of the foundation, or simply choosing to show up a little more gently for the people in your own life. In doing so, you help us keep Glen’s spirit alive in the most meaningful way: through love, compassion, and the simple act of being there when it matters most.
