Local News
JCFS and Gwen Secter Centre continue to provide key supports during pandemic
By BERNIE BELLAN
Ever since the COVID pandemic first began to have a major impact in our community I’ve been reporting on how various agencies have been meeting the needs of those sectors of our community that have been most affected by COVID – whether that’s in the form of regular meal deliveries, grocery shopping, psychological counseling, or simply keeping in touch with isolated individuals.
In our June 10 issue, for instance, I reported how both the Gwen Secter Centre and Jewish Child and Family Service had stepped up their efforts in response to the needs of members of our community, especially seniors. (The JCFS typically serves between 500-600 seniors a year, JCFS Executive Director Al Bennaroch noted at that time.)
In that June 10 issue, I referred to a conversation I had with Cheryl Hirsh Katz, Manager, Adult Services at JCFS, in which I asked Cheryl whether she had seen a marked increase in the agency’s seniors caseload.
Cheryl indicated that had indeed been the case – which, at that time, she explained, was primarily as a result of the Jewish Federation’s having enlisted volunteers to call seniors (and other individuals in the community who found themselves in particularly unfortunate circumstances as a result of the pandemic). Many seniors had been referred to JCFS as a result of those phone calls, Cheryl noted.
“We’ve identified those of our clients who are most in need,” Cheryl said.
“We have capacity to take on more clients,” Cheryl added then, and 20 more clients were, in fact, added to JCFS’s caseload to that point in June.
While JCFS does maintain an “emergency food pantry” to help individuals or families in urgent need of groceries, “there hasn’t, as yet, been an increase in demand”, Cheryl observed back then.
What there has been though, is “an increase in demand for emotional support,” Cheryl said.
“Individuals who have had illnesses” have found themselves isolated and, one other agonizing aspect of the isolation they’d been enduring – and has continued to be an awful predicament for anyone who may have lost a loved one during the pandemic, has been the inability to grieve normally.
“We have our friendly volunteer phone callers; also our own workers are regularly calling clients”, Cheryl said at the time, but for those seniors who could use some emotional support or would like to be added to Gwen Secter’s food delivery program, the JCFS welcomes your call -a nd many more calls requesting support have come in since then.
That was only three months into the pandemic in what, in hindsight, seems like a relatively safe period – in comparison with the past two months, which have seen COVID rage almost without control no matter what restrictions the province might have imposed (or at least attempt to impose).
And, while JCFS was attending to – and has been continuing to attend to the psychological needs of individuals who were particularly hard hit by the isolation caused by the pandemic, Gwen Secter’s two marvelous cooks, Galina Melenevska and Cathy Koltowski, have been steadily increasing the number of meals that they have been turning out – not only for isolated seniors in our community, but for others who were anxious to receive regular cooked meals for a variety of reasons.
Here’s what I wrote in June about how Gwen Secter had stepped into the breach left when Meals on Wheels stopped taking new clients at the end of March due to the huge increase in requests for that service as a result of the first province-wide lockdown, which was imposed March 14: “Gwen Secter has gone from producing 60 meals the week of March 30-April 3 to 286 meals for 73 different individuals in late May. This past week, according to Becky Chisick, Executive Director of the Gwen Secter Centre, 340 meals went out to seniors.”
In our July 10 issue I reported that Gwen Secter was now up to delivering 400 meals a week. As well, in conjunction with JCFS, Gwen Secter had just launched a new initiative: “The Medical Transportation for Seniors Hotline”. In that issue I wrote: “According to Becky Chisick, ‘This program is available for seniors & those with limited mobility. Call the hotline at 204-899-1696 and we will arrange safe one on one, door to door transportation to medical appointments for a subsidized rate.’
In our September issue I reported on the hiring of Danielle Tabacznik to fill the position of “Senior Concierge” at JCFS. Danielle described her duties this way: “I’ll be reaching out to seniors in the Jewish community who may or may not be isolated and who may not be connected to services. I’ll be checking in with them to make sure they’re doing okay…to see whether they do need referrals to services. I’ll also be asking them whether they’re feeling isolated, what programs or services might help them.”
The months of November and December, however, have seen a horrendous increase in the daily number of COVID cases being reported – not just here in Manitoba, but it seems throughout the globe as well (with few exceptions). And, although I’ve been in fairly regular contact with Becky Chisick, it’s been some time since I had asked her how many meals the Gwen Secter kitchen was now turning out.
When I spoke with Becky on Tuesday, December 15, she told me that Galia and Cathy (who now have a part-time assistant to help them) had turned out an astounding 606 meals the previous week. So – in nine short months, the Gwen Secter kitchen has gone from producing 60 meals a week for delivery to over 600 meals a week!
I suppose it’s easy to get distracted by the numbers: Gwen Secter now producing over 600 meals a week for delivery; 195 additional cases for JCFS. But let’s remember: Those numbers represent members of our community who are most in need of assistance. We’re extremely fortunate that our Jewish community has developed a sophisticated infrastructure capable of meeting the needs of those less fortunate – and that the organizations primarily tasked with funding the organizations that are attending to the needs of those most in need of help have also risen to the challenge, especially the Jewish Foundation and the Jewish Federation – together with so many members of our community who have stepped up with increased financial support.
Given that we’re nearing the end of 2020, however, I thought it appropriate to speak with someone who has found himself coordinating a very important component of our community’s response to the COVID pandemic: Al Bennaroch, Executive Director of Jewish Child and Family Service.
Al took some time from his very busy schedule to discuss the pressures he’s witnessed in his job since the end of March – and how JCFS has been handling the increased workload that’s come with having to attend to the terrible psychological toll that COVID has exacted on so many of us.
I said to Al that the last time I had spoken with him was in the spring. I wondered whether there “has been much of an increase in JCFS’s client load?”
He responded: “It depends on the program.” As we were talking, he said he was going to run a program on his computer to give some comparative figures.
“Let’s go back to April 1st,” he said. “I’ll run it from April 1st to today (Dec. 18) and we’ll take a look at what our caseload numbers look like in terms of new intakes.”
After running the program Al offered the following information: “We’ve had 195 new cases in all areas. Typically we might see on average five new cases a month. (The 195 new cases represent an average of over 20 new cases a month.) “Most of those have been in areas that require emotional support.
“Our counselling program, for example, has seen 45 new cases. We’ve seen 33 older adult new cases…nine Holocaust survivors”- who weren’t previously clients, have been added to JCFS’s client list…Addictions – we’ve had four new cases.
“Our aging mental health program – which is seniors living with a mental health issue – we’ve had six new cases in that area.”
“We’ve had seven people who have approached us for financial assistance,” Al noted, but then he added this observation: “My counterparts across the country (in other Jewish family service agencies) have not seen a huge increase in requests for financial support – other than the homeless situation in Toronto. They have a big Jewish homeless situation.
“I think that our federal government has done just enough – with programs like CERB, that have been enough to tide people over.
“A lot of American agencies are saying that they have seen an increase (in requests for financial assistance).” Al suggested that’s a reflection of the different American political system.
“Our employment support program has seen 25 new cases – that’s for newcomers mostly, although it also includes some people who have been laid off during the pandemic,” he noted.
There are also newcomers to the city – who have been continuing to arrive (even during the pandemic – something we noted in our Dec. 9 issue when we quoted Elaine Goldstine, CEO of the Jewish Federation, as saying that 27 new families had arrived in Winnipeg since the start of the pandemic).
I turned the subject to the high number of deaths that we’ve been witnessing in the Jewish community, especially in the past two months – as well as the community at large. While certainly a significant number of deaths are attributable to COVID (11 at the Simkin Centre, for instance, although one of those deaths occurred in a hospital, not in the centre itself), looking at Chesed Shel Emes’s database, there have already been 146 deaths as of the beginning of January – and not all Jews who pass away are taken to Chesed Shel Emes.
I wondered whether social isolation has been a contributing factor in some of those deaths, especially in personal care homes such as the Simkin Centre.
While Al suggested that the analysis hasn’t been done yet as to whether depression resulting from isolation has been a significant factor in the number of deaths, he did say that “We’ve been working with Simkin. We’re going to offer supports to families that have lost someone at Simkin due to COVID. We want to see whether they want to avail themselves of it.”
Al added that one of the responsibilities of JCFS is to offer help to the entire community, including other Jewish agencies. “That could mean supporting the staff of organizations that are stressed at this time.”
On that point I wondered whether JCFS still has a full complement of staff.
“We’ve had to reduce the hours of some people…there was a fledgling executive assistant – she was a student. We laid her off; she was fine with that.
“Essentially we’ve been ramping up some of our staff” (including the senior concierge position referenced earlier.)
“A lot of our older adult cases have come to us through the senior concierge position,” Al explained.
He noted, as well, that plans are afoot to send students into the community in January, wearing full Personal Protective Equipment, to help train seniors in the use of iPads. “We just put out an order for an additional 10-15 iPads that we’re going to get out into the community,” Al said.
“I have a plan where we can expand our volunteer coordination components so that we can take on more volunteers and perform more outreach to people,” Al observed.
I asked how many phone caller volunteers there are right now?
“Right now I think we have 15-17 active phone caller volunteers,” Al answered. “If that’s something we can expand beyond the walls of JCFS clientele – I’m going to explore that. In this day and age phone calls are the best we can do – until we can reinstate face to face visits.
“Of course, we’re prioritizing like we did in the spring,” Al continued. “We’re prioritizing the most vulnerable, the most at risk. Those are: the elderly, clients living with mental health issues, and clients living with addiction issues.”
Speaking of addiction issues, Al noted that “we’re no different than the rest of the world. We’re seeing a rise in opiate use – because that’s the drug that’s available. We’re seeing a rise in alcohol use.
“Anecdotally, we’re seeing a rise in domestic violence…A lot of other Jewish communities, for instance Hamilton, have seen a sharp rise in domestic violence – directly proportional to the degree of lockdown… We’re seeing more tensions rising with parenting issues,” he also observed.
Something else that I suggested to Al I had found when I wrote my article in June about how JCFS was helping various members of the community was that some of the individuals with whom I spoke back then might be described as being “on the periphery of the community”. Some of them had recently moved back to Winnipeg after being away for years, others had never really been involved much with the Jewish community, per se. I said that, while each of the individuals with whom I spoke back then was quite appreciative of the assistance rendered by JCFS, I wondered whether it was Al’s impression that more individuals who might also be considered on the periphery of the community had been availing themselves of the various forms of assistance rendered by JCFS?
Al responded that “the Jewish Federation has a pretty robust data base. Unlike a city like Toronto – it’s hard to hide in Winnipeg if you’re Jewish – someone knows someone who knows someone.
“Look, as of today we have 2262 cases at JCFS. We’re looking at 5900 people altogether. We’re talking 40% of our community that somehow gets impacted by our work. If we’re helping mum and dad, and they have three kids at home, the kids are being impacted by the help.”
I asked about newcomers to our community, saying that many of them wouldn’t have the family support networks that long-established members of our community would have – that could provide both financial and emotional support. I wondered whether JCFS had seen any sort of an increase in requests for assistance from newcomers as a result?
“I don’t know,” Al answered. “I’d have to dig deeper in the statistics.”
“Are they aware of the services you provide?” I asked.
“Oh yes. We have ramped up outreach to clients in every area, including our newcomer area.
He added this observation: “The pandemic has created new problems, but the old problems don’t go away either.
“But, the beauty of our community is that we’ve received many calls from people saying: ‘I’m really worried about so and so. Can you do anything to help?’ And we reach out to those people.
“Sure, there are some people who fall through the cracks, but our goal is to catch as many of them as we can before they fall too far.”
“Is it predominantly seniors we’re talking about here?” I asked.
“So far, yes,” Al said. “When I look at our numbers our highest areas of growth have been in counseling – but that’s open to all members of the community. But our senior program has had 33 new cases since April.”
Yet, other areas within JCFS’s mandate have commanded more attention as well. For instance, Al noted that “we had our clients in the mental health program not attending doctor’s appointments. We were trying to get to the bottom of why. The theme that kept running through was ‘We’re too anxious to take the bus – even with precautions’. So, they were actually avoiding doctors’ appointments and, in turn, getting bloodwork done, getting new prescriptions – which, in turn, was further destabilizing.
“So, we were able to get some money through a directed gift through the (Jewish) Foundation to cover off on cab rides for people to get to their appointments.”
“If there’s a will, there’s a way, and we want to get people through these challenging times and get them the service that they require.”
Finally, I asked whether there’s anything new to report on finding a second location for JCFS – a project which has been ongoing for more than a year. While Al did say that they’re “continuing to press forward on feasibility and costs,” there won’t likely be anything more to report on the subject until the spring.”
If you would like to contact either JCFS or the Gwen Secter Centre to find out more about help they are able to provide, the JCFS phone number is 204-477-7430, while the Gwen Secter Centre’s phone number is 204-339-1701.
Local News
Dr. Joel Antel new Canadian Dental association president
By MYRON LOVE Dr. Joel Antel, the newly-installed president of the Canadian Dental Association, says that he approaches dentistry from a customer service perspective. That means, he explains, taking time to get to know his patients, helping them with filling out forms – for insurance claims, for example – and striving to provide a positive customer experience.
Dentistry, it seems, was always in the cards for the 45-year dental practitioner. “Growing up, I was exposed to people in a wide variety of fields,” he recalls. “Dentistry grabbed my attention. As far back as high school, I knew that I wanted to be a dentist.”
Once in practice, it was only a few years before Antel became involved in dental governance. In giving of his time to the community, as the son of the late community leaders Oscar and Bella Antel, Joel says his parents set the example for him. Prior to assuming his most recent position as presidents of the Canadian Dental Association, Joel already had a solid record of volunteering in both the Jewish and wider community.
In his younger days, he notes, he performed with the Sarah Sommer Chai Folk Ensemble – as a musician. (He also played guitar and bass for many years – in his free time – for Mandibular Black, a rock cover band). Joel represented the performers on the Chai Board and later served as Chai’s president. He remains a member of the Board of Governors of Chai to this day.
When his kids were in school, Joel was a member of the Joseph Wolinsky Collegiate parent council and the Board of Jewish Education. He further pursued his interest in promoting education through his long-time involvement with the Stevenson Britannia Adult Learning Centre, which caters to adults of all ages who want to complete their high school degrees or take additional high school courses needed to qualify for post-secondary programs.
Joel’s entry into leadership within the dental profession began in 1991 when he was invited to join the Manitoba Dental Association’s Communications Committee. “I expected that my participation in the association would be short-term,” he says. “But I found it rewarding being involved.”
Joel soon became a board member, then, in 2011, became president (a one-year-term). In 2017, he became the MDA’s representative on the board of the Canadian Dental Association. Two years ago, he was asked to take on the office of vice-president – becoming president-elect one year later and is now beginning his term as president.
The CDA’s activities are multi-faceted, the new president points out. These activities include: position statements on matters of import to the profession, a regular publication – as well as social media platforms – keeping dentists and other oral healthcare staff up to date on new developments in the field, and providing answers to questions that members may have, co-operation with provincial and territorial dental associations, media relations and liaison with government.
The major focus currently is implementation of the Federal Government’s newly-announced national dental care program.
“This is a very ambitious project,” Joel says. “And we at the CDA are working closely with the government to bring it to fruition. Arrangements with three provinces have already been finalized and we are confident that the other provinces will soon sign on, too.”
Naturally, as president of the CDA, there will be much travel for Joel over the coming year. He estimates that he will be in the air every six weeks or so. “I am thankful for modern technology,” he observes. “In addition to the travel, I am on Zoom across the country at least once or twice a week.
“I am thankful that I have a supportive wife (Bonnie) and staff.”
In recognition of his tireless efforts on behalf of both the MDA and the CDA – as well as the hours he has put in teaching at the Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry and continuing education programs for dentists, dental hygienists and dental assistants, Joel Antel has been honoured with the MDA President’s Appreciation Award (1998), the MDA’s Award of Merit (2003), and the CDI College Assisting Dental Program Practicum Partnership Award (2009). He has also been recipient of Fellowships from the International College of Dentists, the Academy of Dentistry International, and the Pierre Fouchard Academy.
For Joel Antel, what makes all of his volunteer efforts on behalf of his fellow professionals worth it is the opportunities he has had to connect with so many people across Canada.
“I am energized by my constant association with so many in my professions,” he says, “not only fellow dentists, but also by the support staff and students I have also had the opportunity to get to know.”
Local News
Rady JCC 50th anniversary Ken Kronson Sports Dinner to honour long-time supporters Lana and Gregg Maidment
By MYRON LOVE On Tuesday, May 28, the Rady JCC is hosting its annual Ken Kronson Sports Dinner – celebrating its 50th anniversary. This year’s honourees are a special couple – Lana and Gregg Maidment, who, for more than 25 years, have been an integral part of the dinner’s success.
“We are really excited,” says Lana Maidment. “The Rady JCC – and its predecessor, the YMHA Jewish Community Centre – have held a very special place in my family’s life ever since we came to Canada almost 50 years ago.
“We feel particularly humbled that Gregg and I are being honoured in conjunction with the dinner’s 50th anniversary.”
“This is a milestone year for us,” says Al Greenberg, Sports Dinner Committee Chair in a Rady JCC press release. “Lana and Gregg are the perfect fit for this celebration and we are so happy they are humbly allowing us to do them this honour. “
Lana, who is the President and CEO of Komana Financial Inc. (a business originally founded by her father, the late Mike Kogan), has been heavily involved in the Rady JCC Sports Dinner for years as a committee member, leading the way to securing countless sponsorships, prizes, and donations.
As long as 35 years ago, Lana was already involved with what was then the YMHA as a fitness instructor at the old Y on Hargrave.
Her parents, Mike and Adel, were members of the Rady JCC from day one and could be seen at the same table every day at Shmoozer’s.
Gregg is originally from southern Ontario. He came to our community in 1987 to serve as managing partner at the Canadian Auction Group’s Winnipeg location. After ADESA Canada bought out the Canadian auto auction group, Gregg was appointed ADESA’ s General Manager and Vice-president of Operations for Western Canada. In 2005, he was promoted to Senior Vice-president, Canadian Operations.
About a year ago, ADESA merged with TradeRev and now operates as Openlane Canada – KAR on the New York Stock Exchange.
“It was Larry Vickar who first invited me to help with the Sports Dinner auction,” Gregg recalls. “That was over 25 years ago and we have sponsored the live auction ever since.
“If you’ve ever been to our dinner, then you know Gregg’s voice and know firsthand what he does for us,” says Greenberg. “The way he and his team have elevated our live auction over the years has been life changing for so many.”
It is not only the Sports Dinner where Lana, Gregg and their auction team have volunteered their services. More than 50 charities have benefitted from their efforts – raising upwards of $200 million dollars over the years for various charities and non-profits including:All the hospital foundation, CancerCare Manitoba Foundation, Juvenile Diabetes, Heart and Stroke Foundation, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Pan Am Clinic Foundation, Ronald McDonald House, Habitat for Humanity, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Variety Children’s Charity, Bruce Oake Foundation, Fort Whyte Centre, True North Foundation, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Manitoba Harvest, Teen Adult Challenge, the Sons and Daughters of Italy, Dream Factory, Winnipeg Humane Society, Royal Canadian Aviation Museum, Mainstreet Project, all private high schools (including Gray Academy, St. Paul’s, St. Mary’s, Balmoral Hall, Saint John’s Ravenscourt) and all major educational institutions.
“Together, Lana and Gregg have built an incredible legacy for their family, structured on the principles of love, hard work, and philanthropy,” Greenberg adds.. “Adel and Mike would be so proud of Lana. I am sure that they would have been the first people to raise a glass, raise a paddle and be so proud of what their daughter Lana and son-in-law Gregg have accomplished in life and community.”
Every dollar from the Rady JCC Ken Kronson Sports Dinner directly supports the Rady JCC’s variety of recreational, cultural, and fitness programs for all age groups to meet the diverse needs of the community-at-large. Through its programs and camps, the Rady reaches thousands of children a year – of all abilities – helping them to stay active and develop leadership skills.
“People from throughout North Americas are coming for this special 50th anniversary dinner,” Lana reports. “Upwards of 2,000 business leaders and community members are expected to attend, including representatives of the charities that we and the community support.”
“These dinners are always magical,” adds Greenberg. “And through sharing Lana and Gregg’s story and honouring their entire family this year, we are in for something even bigger than we’ve ever seen before.”
For tickets, readers can contact Zach Minuk at 204 480-6562 or email zminuk@radyjcc.com
Local News
Jewish participants once again among Cancercare Manitoba Foundation Challenge for Life top fundraisers
By MYRON LOVE “It seems like every time I blink, I hear about someone else I know of who has cancer,” observes Louise Raber. “I just found out that the 40-year-old daughter of a friend of mine is receiving treatment for cancer. While there is not a lot I can do about it, one thing I can do is raise money through participating in CancerCare Manitoba Foundation’s Challenge for Life.”
The 17th annual Cancercare Manitoba Foundation Challenge for Life 20KM walk (or 200-minute workout) is scheduled this year for Sunday, June 1, at Assiniboine Park and Raber and her Nancy’s Nightingale team– including long time teammates Joanne Katz, Rhonda Youell, Connie Botelho and Harriet Lyons – one of the original teams – are back for another go.
“We are just getting started,” Raber reports. “While a couple of us will be doing the entire 20km walk on June 1st, the others will be doing 100-15 km during the week before and 5 km on June 1.
“We are getting older,” she observes.
The Nightingales – named after a nurse – a cancer survivor who is a friend of Louise Raber – have been among the top fundraisers among participating teams since the Challenge for Life’s inception.
“Our goal, as always, is to raise at least one dollar more than last year,” Raber says.
The Nightingales are one of several predominantly Jewish teams that has been taking part in the challenge annually.
The top fundraiser among these teams continues to be Team Schvesters.
The “Shvesters” are the Greenfeld sisters – Lesly Katz, Debby Lewis and Benji Harvey – the daughters of Lil and the late Ike Greenfeld – along with friend Kim Gray – and new team member (this year) Susan Fennell.
Individually, Harvey is the star – consistently finishing in the top five individual fundraisers. As of April 30, she was in fourth place, having raised $10,685 toward a goal of $12,000. Kim Gray was in sixth place overall, having raised just over $8,000.
The team as a whole had raised $20, 670 – good for second place overall.
“While Kim and I will be walking 10km on June 1, all of our other team members have chosen to do the optional workout,” Harvey reports.
The workout consists of 200 minutes during the week preceding June 1 doing a variety of activities, including boot camp, climbing, ballet, zumba, and yoga.
In tenth place among individual Challenge participants is Jason Gisser – having raised $2,860 towards a target of $7,000 as of April 30. His team, Jason’s Journey, including Wendy Martin-White, Matt Maruca, Nora Fien, Jessica Horton, Rebecca Parkinson (and others expected to be joining soon) sits in fifth place overall, having raised $,3.700 towards a goal of $13,000.
The still relatively young lawyer and son of David Gisser and Judge Freda Steel has experienced a more intimate and longer-lasting relationship with cancer than many of the other Challenge for Life participants. He was first diagnosed with cancer when he was 18. “I am a proud cancer fighter, having lived and battled a chronic cancer diagnosis for the last 21 years,” he says. “I participate in the Challenge for Life not only to give back for the care and treatment which I have and continue to receive through CancerCare Manitoba, but to ensure that others do not have to endure the journey which I have endured.”
This is Gisser’s seventh year taking up the Challenge For Life and fourth as captain of his team, Jason’s Journey. Last year, he reports, Team Jason’s Journey raised $10,093 towards lifesaving research and treatment provided by CancerCare Manitoba, finishing 14th out of 125 community and corporate teams.
“My individual fundraising last year efforts,” he adds, “placed me 18th of over 900 participants. Since beginning my participation in the Challenge of Life (including my team’s fundraising), we have raised nearly $40,000.
“I have once again committed to raise money for the CancerCare Manitoba Foundation in the fight against cancer, and to walk 20 kms, which I will do all in one day on June 1 in the walk beginning and ending at Assiniboine Park. I continue to be humbled by the incredible support which has been provided to me in my efforts to raise money for life-saving research, programs, and treatment provided by CancerCare Manitoba to cancer fighters all over the province.”
The oldest participant in the Challenge once again is 90-year-old Pearl Rosenberg who, with her daughters, , Cindy Yusim and Brenda Dahle – also joined this year by her granddaughter, Cara Dahle, and Cara’s friend, Crystal Schintz – comprise “Sister Act”.
Rosenberg lost two daughters to cancer within about a year of each other. Naomi Palansky passed away in 2010 and Michelle Moyer in 2011.
“I started taking part in the Challenge for Life on Team Chai in 2008,” Dahle says. “My mom, my sister Cindy, and I walk in memory of our sisters whose love, strength, and courage continue to inspire us.”
Dahle reports that her mother’s walk will be incorporated into her daily walks in Kildonan Park – doing the 20km in increments of 3-5 km a day. Dahle is training at the Wellness Centre and in her neighbourhood while Yusim, who is working out at the Altea Gym, will be doing some biking.
“Our team goal this year is $5000,” Dahle says. “My personal goal is $2,000.
“If anyone else would like to join us, we would welcome them.”
Perennial fundraising dynamo Cathy Moser is also back for her 17th campaign. The founder of Serratus Superstars says she started accepting the Challenge for Life when it was 60 km over two days – in honor of her mother who passed away from Pancreatic Cancer.
“I saw the ‘good’ that the Cancercare Foundation did when I took my mother there in 2006.” she says. “The Cancercare Foundation does make a difference in our lives – and we have all been ‘touched’ by cancer. The Foundation ameliorates the trauma by providing coffee, cookies and entertainment to people anxiously awaiting blood test results in the Foundation Waiting Room. It cuts down our waiting time for some procedures by purchasing equipment, and it keeps us in the loop of new research and drug trials.”
Readers can make donations to their preferred team by click on Challengeforlife.ca.
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