Photo submitted.
By Cecilia Nasmith
The Northumberland Hills Hospital Foundation and the Survivor Thrivers dragon-boat team announce the success of their joint venture – the Oct. 7 Stronger Together: Stay ABreast event at Port hope's Capitol Theatre, which raised $7,630.
It also succeeded in bringing together community members and individuals living with or recovering from a breast-cancer diagnosis with an evening of education, encouragement and a strong sense of community and support.
Emcee Jenny McCaig kicked off the evening with a reflection on her own personal breast-cancer journey before turning things over to speaker Jennifer Ellis.
Sharing details of the journey and treatment she is undergoing, Ellis was supported by a panel of health-care professionals that included Clinical Fellowship in Women's Imaging Radiologist Dr. Sepideh Karkhanechi, Oncoplastic Training Breast Surgical Oncologist Dr. Kaes Al-Ali and Medical Oncologist Dr. Leta Forbes (specializing in breast and gynecological cancers).
Ellis's remarks concluded with an optimistic look to the future and encouragement to those in attendance to get mammograms.
Follow-up key speaker Sandy Ward shared a 20-year story of survivorship, reflecting on the community of support that helped her live her best post-cancer life. The panel of speakers supporting Ward included Survivor-Thrivers President Sharyn Dunn, Naturopathic Doctor Dr. Stacey Fritsch and Strength and Resiliency Coach Mike Walton.
NHH President and Chief Executive Officer Susan Walsh closed out the evening with a look at four substantial investments to be made at the hospital in the coming year – a new 3D mammography unit with contrast capabilities, an additional ultrasound unit, new bone mineral density scanner and wire-free breast-tissue localization technology.
Funds raised will help the hospital modernize its breast-health program and assist the team (consisting of local individuals living with a breast-caner diagnosis) in purchasing a new dragon boat.
“This was an important event and a fitting partnership as we focus efforts on supporting major investments in the breast-health program at NHH in the coming year,” Foundation Chief Executive Officer Rhonda Cunningham.
“We are grateful to all who attended, sponsored and supported this event.
“Together with our community, we can continue the conversations started during this impactful evening, invest in the future and ensure modern care remains accessible for patients and families facing breast cancer in our community.”
Event sponsors included Cobourg Nissan, TD Wealth Harbourstone Wealth Management-Kristi MacDonald and Gunther Rappi- and J.J. Laracy Contracting.
