The warm weather, sunny skies, and large attendance made Emo’s annual Spring Fever Days last weekend a success for all concerned, according to most reports.
Merchants were smiling, patrons were buying, and everywhere there were laughing children—revelling in the chance to chase away the winter blues and embrace a new season of life and promise.
Amid the sales, raffles, and giveaways, however, there was a quiet campaign of a far more serious nature—and one that will have implications long after last weekend’s festivities are just another memory.
For the past six years, the Hair and Body Care Shoppe in Emo has been operating a fundraising campaign to raise money to help local people who are dealing with cancer. Since April is officially Cancer Month, it ties in nicely with Spring Fever Days.
Each year, the shop selects one individual or family that is coping with cancer and then solicits donations from sponsors in exchange for having their heads shaved.
Head shaving has become a popular demonstration of solidarity with those undergoing cancer treatments because the powerful drugs used to treat the disease often result in the patient losing all of his or her hair.
This year, there were three volunteers—Jimmy Steele of Emo, Donna Heyens of Stratton, and myself, Michael Hilborn, of Fort Frances. Each had their own reasons for putting their heads under the razor.
“It’s an issue with me because I’ve lost a few people in my family. [And] I wanted to help Cindy out,” noted Steele, which he did to the tune of $557.
Heyens’ reasons are more obvious—her sister, Cindy Mowe, is this year’s beneficiary of the funds raised. And mine are explained in the accompanying article.
Mowe is a teaching assistant at St. Michael’s School in Fort Frances. She also is a bartender at the curling club in Stratton, where she lives. On March 25, she received the news that strikes terror into the heart of every woman—she had breast cancer.
Her initial reaction was typical.
“My first reactions were shock and denial,” she recounted. “There is no history of it in my family and all the initial tests seemed good.”
But tests don’t always tell the whole story. Heyens said there is a history of benign cysts in her family and perhaps that ultimately will be in her sister’s favour since both women practice regular self-examinations so the disease probably was caught at an early stage.
With cancer, the earlier the diagnosis, the better the prognosis. But the real key, said Heyens, is to be proactive.
“Don’t just rely on mammograms and ultrasounds,” she cautioned. “Sure, they’re good, but they don’t always catch it. If something doesn’t look right or feel right, get to your doctor and demand answers.”
Heyens said her sister became concerned when a pre-existing lump suddenly changed in appearance and that set off warning bells.
“Follow it up,” she asserted. “The only absolute proof is a tissue biopsy.”
The way cancer is treated has changed considerably over the years as medical science unravels more of its secrets. As recently as four years ago, the standard procedure was to surgically remove the tumour with some surrounding tissue (mastectomy) and follow that up with sessions of chemotherapy and radiation.
Now the procedure is being reversed.
On April 8, Mowe began the first chemotherapy sessions, which will go on for three months. This will be followed by radiation before she goes in for surgery.
The thinking here is to reduce the tumour before the surgery in the hopes of minimizing the amount of tissue that must be removed.
Although she still looks fine outwardly, Mowe already is feeling the side effects of the treatment.
“I have lots of nausea, but it’s settling down, thanks to some new medication they’ve given me,” she noted. “But it still takes a lot out of you. I’m so tired most of the time.
“I went from working two full-time jobs to being at home and lying on the couch.”
Fortunately, her employers are completely behind her as she faces this ordeal.
St. Michael’s principal Teresa Dennis has set up a fund so people can continue to make donations here in Fort Frances.
“She’s a wonderful, wonderful employee,” said Dennis. “The children really love her. She has a way with special-needs children and all our prayers are with her.”
Even the Stratton Curling Club got into the act.
“We held a loggers’ bonspiel last weekend and the wives put on a supper for the guys,” Heyens recalled. “Afterwards, we passed the hat around and in all raised $150 in tips. We gave the money to Cindy.”
Meanwhile, the Hair and Body Care Shoppe contributed all proceeds from Saturday’s business to the cause—on top of what was raised by the three volunteers who had their heads shaved.
Heyens said she was overwhelmed with the response this year. “The response has been fantastic,” she enthused. “I aimed for $3,000, but by today [Saturday], I have over $6,000.”
Heyens said it is vitally important that people get involved in the battle for a cure to cancer. It’s not just about her and her sister—it’s about all of us.
“There isn’t a family that isn’t touched by it at some point,” she warned.
As of press time, a total of $9,140 was raised for Mowe, but additional donations are welcome. And you don’t have to shave your head to help, either.
If you wish to contribute, St. Michael’s School still is accepting donations. Just call the school (274-9232) or drop in anytime during school hours.
In addition, the Canadian Cancer Society is always open to donations, not just during April. To learn more about cancer or to make a donation, call the CCS at 1-800-227-5557.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
