Did you hear the one about the young guy with cancer?

How about the punchline about the middle-aged man battling Crohn’s disease for the last three decades?

Obviously, there is nothing funny about being diagnosed with a life-threatening or debilitating illness.

But people often encounter humour as they navigate their health care journeys, including sharing a camaraderie among other patients. And research has shown laughter really can be the best medicine.

Now, North York resident Zal Press is giving a voice to sick people through his new entertainment company called Patient Commando.

“Patient Commando uses public speaking, humour therapy workshops and live theatre to present compelling stories from the patient perspective,” a statement about the company said.

“It is the first initiative of its kind in Canada, producing ‘patient storytelling entertainment’ to create an environment of understanding – most often through the use of humour.”

Live performances, which raise money for charities, are one-man shows featuring patients using a combination of comedy and the real-life heartbreak of facing a serious illness to tell their stories.

Patient Commando’s inaugural production was held Thursday, May 12 at Toronto’s Glenn Gould Studio.

It featured Bloor West Village comedian, actor and cancer survivor Daniel Stolfi performing Cancer Can’t Dance Like This. The performance [...] continue the story