THUNDER BAY – Healthbeat – Swimming. Boating. Fishing. Relaxing. That’s what most kids would do on one of the last summer weekends out at camp. But that wasn’t on the agenda for a group of four youngsters out at McKenzie Beach. Instead, they decided that they wanted to raise money for the Northern Cancer Fund in support of their good friend, Susan Cameron, a nine-year cancer patient and camp neighbour.
“We decided that we’d set up a lemonade stand and a tattoo stand. Everything was free but we asked people to give a donation,” the group said. “And we decided that we’d have a little competition between the boys (lemonade) and girls (tattoos) to see who could raise the most money.”
The tattoos ended up being slightly more popular that day, but the kids didn’t really care who’d won – they just wanted to make sure that the money was given to the Northern Cancer Fund so that people, like Susan, could continue to get the care they need.
“Susan is so nice,” they all enthused. “She always lets us come over and use her trampoline and play with her cat, Joey. We just wanted to do something nice for her.”
“The thing that warmed my heart is that none of the parents suggested it – the kids just did it on their own,” said Murray Walberg, father to one of the boys. “Susan is wonderful to those kids and it’s a real tribute to her kindness that the kids wanted to do this in her honour.”
The money raised will continue to support close-to-home cancer care for patients in Northwestern Ontario. “I’ve been very, very fortunate that I’ve been able to stay here at home for my entire treatment,” said Susan. “The support I’ve received from my family and friends has made all the difference to me in my cancer journey. I’m especially grateful that my young camp friends did this with me in mind, and that the money they raised will continue to help others in their own cancer journeys.”
Heather Vita
