The Expanding Community Cancer Care committee are ‘jumping up and down excited’. Last week, they received a letter of approval that they’ve been waiting on since 2018. In 2014, work began to better the existing chemotherapy unit Russell. They needed more space and so many upgrades. Since then, there’s been so much done to raise money. There’s been gala events like the one in 2016 at the George P. Buleziuk Centre. The Tim Horton’s Cookie Campaign has raised tens of thousands for the cause. There’s been bake sales and pie sales and slow pitch tournaments. Kids have come with fantastic ideas to raise money just so people didn’t have to travel so far to receive chemo. Year after year, the Major Pratt Trojans held their annual Stick It to Cancer fundraising game. They’ve raised well over $100,000. And they’re not stopping yet. On February 9th they’ll be donning their pink jerseys again as they suit up the cause once again. Every year too, no matter the weather, there’s been the Walk of Hope. For all of these years, it’s been a cause close to the hearts of people in all of the 14 communities the chemo unit serves. Last Tuesday night, the committee received word that their years of hard work and persistence had paid with a letter stating that Audrey Gordon, the provincial Minister of Health and Senior Care had approved an approximate 2,300 square foot building addition to the Russell Health Centre to house the Cancer Care program. Prairie Mountain Health has advised they will be working closely with the committee and staff to come up with a building that works. As soon as we know more, you will too.
By: Terrie Welwood