CANADIAN CANCER SOCIETY
Annual daffodil campaign underway.
Alex Lee always knew he wanted to be involved in the health-care profession, and it’s one of the reasons he decided to become a paramedic.
Although his job consists of long hours, Lee stills finds time in his busy schedule to volunteer with the Canadian Cancer Society in his hometown of Glace Bay.
The 29-year-old is the chair of the society’s Daffodil Month campaign in the community, a position he has held for the past three years.
“I’m pretty sure anybody in society today would be hardpressed to find someone not either directly or indirectly affected by cancer — that was always in the back of my mind,” said Lee, who’s been a paramedic for EHS for the past four years. “I always wanted to help out.”
The Daffodil Month campaign takes place each year in April across the country. The goal of the campaign is to raise vital funds for the fight against cancer.
In Cape Breton, close to 400 people volunteer with the campaign in communities across the island.
“As a paramedic, especially, you can’t really help people with cancer that much, you can help with their pain a little and you can help them with the situation, but most of the time you are taking them back and forth to get radiation,” said Lee.
Lee knew he wanted to be part of the health-care profession when a friend of his
in high school was diagnosed with cancer, another reason he volunteers with the cancer society.
“I’ve realized that there’s so much cancer in Cape Breton,” said Lee. “As a paramedic, I know I am helping people, but it just feels like I wanted to do more, which is why I got involved with the cancer society.”
Lee and his volunteer team
will be selling daffodils from March 30 to April 1 at Sobeys and Superstore in Glace Bay. The flowers are $8 a bunch. The campaign will also be selling pins for $2, with all money raised going to the Canadian Cancer Society.
Rhonda Gallant, district coordinator for the Canadian Cancer Society in Cape Breton, said some of the money raised does stay on the island.
“It mostly goes toward our programs like The Lodge That Gives in Halifax, which is a place where people stay for free while they’re getting cancer treatment there,” she said. “The money also goes towards our children’s Camp Goodtime, and a lot of it is going to cancer research.”
“The yellow flowers were originally used to decorate tables at fundraising events in Ontario, and now the daffodil symbolizes strength and courage in the fight against cancer.”
Lee said the feedback for the campaign has been positive.
“The comments are usually very good,” he said. “Every time it rolls around people are always asking when and where we will be selling the daffodils.”
Lee said he is always looking for volunteers, and noted there are some who continue to volunteer year after year for the campaign.
“Carol Scott of Glace Bay has been volunteering for the campaign for the past number of years,” he said. “She helps out a lot and it’s appreciated.”
To volunteer for the campaign, contact Lee at 902-5748023 or by email at alexplee. gb@gmail.com.