Optimists’ Club preparing for 17th annual Walk for Women’s Cancer
The Yamaska Valley Optimist Club has raised nearly $775,000 for the Brome-missisquoi-perkins Hospital Foundation over the past 16 years. The club will add to that total on Sunday, Sept. 30 when it conducts its 17th annual Walk to End Women’s Cancers in Knowlton. If the walk brings in its annual average it will raise the total to well over $800,000.
The BMP Foundation uses the money to buy equipment for the prevention and treatment of women’s cancers. The money raised this year will finance a diagnostic screen system of mammary imaging used in breast surgeries, and a pediatric coloscope for easier and safer examination of the colon, especially in
small women, according to a press release from the Optimist Club.
Lucy Davis, an occupational therapist at BMP Hospital, and Daniela Scherff, a cervical cancer survivor, are the honorary co-presidents of the walk this year. Scherff is walking in honour of her mother, also a cancer survivor.
Scherff is grateful for early detection of her cervical cancer 10 years ago. She was diagnosed on Aug. 8, 2008.
“If the doctors hadn’t caught it when they did, I would no longer be alive today,” she said in a speech at a press conference last week. Her doctor suggested she undergo a complete hysterectomy, but Scherff was reluctant because, at age 30, she still wanted to bear children.
The doctor explained that without a complete hysterectomy the risk of relapse would be high, and there would be a low chance of natural pregnancy. There would also be a 30 per cent chance of miscarriage if she did become pregnant.
She had the surgery to remove her cervix on Sept. 23, 2008. After a long period of recovery and several attempts to conceive, Scherff looked into surrogacy and was able to find someone to help. Scherff now has a daughter, and, she said, the surrogate has become part of the family.
Scherff is celebrating her tenth year of survival, and she says she is looking forward to many more.
“Thank you so much for donating whatever you can, no matter how little, it does make a difference,” she said. “We need to find a cure so that someday, no one will have to face this ever again. Together, as women, we need to be strong for each other, support each other, but most importantly, you are never alone and there is always hope.”
Sponsors pay for the general costs of the Walk to End Women’s Cancers, so every dollar earned goes to the BMP Foundation. Participants get donations from their friends and families. Awards will be given to individuals and corporate teams who raise the most money.
Anyone wishing to walk can register online at www.fondationbmp.ca. Pledge forms can be downloaded and printed. They can also be found at Le Panier Champetre, Royal Lepage in Knowlton, Nettoyeur Houle, Jean Coutu Pharmacy in Cowansville, and Bromont Medical Clinic.
On-site registration will take place from 8 a.m. until 9:15 a.m. on Sept. 30 at the Brome Lake Community Centre.
BCN reporter, Louise Smith, has an interesting series currently in the Brome County News regarding local ‘Town Logos”. The Article in the July 17 issue discussed TBL’S Logo (‘Seven Communities’)
The logo illustrated in the article (Logo #2) was introduced to residents in 2007 by then mayor Richard Wisdom as having been designed by an advertising agency. According to a note in TEMPO, the mayor was ‘delighted with the result’ which was chosen to replace the town’s existing logo (Logo #1). To my knowledge, TBL residents were not involved in the design selection. ( I recall being taken aback by the new logo at the time, thinking it brought to mind a ‘convulsing octopus!’)
What is interesting now is that the old logo seems to be making a comeback. Page 5 of TBL’S August 2018 newsletter shows Logo # 1 (where one might expect Logo #2) without comment. Also, I noticed that there are 2 signs welcoming visitors to the town from Auto route Exit 90, each featuring a different logo.
It appears that the town is having second thoughts about the choice of the new logo. Perhaps involving some residents in the selection process might have been a good idea?