Just as the cooler weather brought on colourful foliage, Oct. 23 brought colourfully dressed women to the PMD arena for the annual Breast Cancer Awareness Luncheon. Founder Dale Franklin moved the event back to the fall after holding it in the spring the last two years.
The 75 enthusiastic women present enjoyed a hot lunch catered by the Drayton UCW, and purchased tickets for prizes and raffles, with the proceeds donated to the Listowel Breast Health Centre and the Grand River Cancer Centre. Franklin proudly reported that in nine years, the event has raised more than $25,000.
Once again, a unique Day Lily was auctioned off to the highest bidder, compliments of breeder Betty Fretz. The lilies are most often purchased and named to honour someone who has battled cancer, with this year’s lily honouring Ann Buehler. Past purchasers, the Maple Mad Hatters, invited everyone to view their lily at the Mapleton Township office garden in the spring. Quite fittingly, it is a red bloom with a purple throat.
This year’s big raffle will be drawn on Dec. 18. First prize is a wooden crokinole board handcrafted by Floyd, Gary and Bob Schieck. Second prize is a pink crib-sized bunny quilt hand sewn by the “Sew Whats,” and third prize is an original painting, Secret Garden by Henni Klaassen. The items can be viewed and tickets purchased at Blooming Dales on Main Street.
Keynote speaker Crystal Hartung, a diagnostic imaging technologist, delivered a powerful message about the importance of screening in the early detection of breast cancer. Hartung herself is considered to be at higher risk since her mother was diagnosed at the age of 40.
Women are encouraged to participate in the Ontario Breast Screening Program from age 50 to 74 if they are of average risk – in other words, they do not have a close relative who has been diagnosed or they have not tested positive for the breast cancer gene. However, Hartung suggests that all women get at least one mammogram while in their 40s to establish a baseline, and then continue with mammograms every two years from age 50. Those who are at high risk require them annually from age 30 to 69 years.
“Everyone needs to take care of themselves and get screening before it is too late,” Hartung cautioned her audience. “Fifty per cent of all cancers can be prevented or detected early before they become serious.”
There are three organized cancer screening programs in this province: the Ontario Breast Cancer Screening Program, the Ontario Cervical Screening Program, and the Colon Cancer Check. Hartung advises that everyone take advantage of these programs so that they can “screen for life.”
As a certified X-ray technologist, Hartung went on to describe some of the latest equipment available for mammography to help assuage the many fears that women often have that cause them to put off this life saving procedure. “The new changes make it easier and less painful,” she said.
To set up an appointment for a first mammogram with the Listowel Breast Health Centre, women can call 1-519-291-5490.
Hartung also emphasized that women “need to watch for any changes in breast health and get checked out if they have any concerns.
“You don’t have to wait until you are 50,” she assured her audience.
The afternoon wrapped up with a heartfelt speech by Franklin, who described how she came up with the idea for the first luncheon in 2006. As owner of Blooming Dales, she received a limited edition print signed by artist Betty Singer after selling a large quantity of Singer’s line of giftware.
The Breast Cancer Awareness Luncheon came about as a way to raffle off the print and make some money to help her friends who were battling breast cancer. The first year, 75 tickets were sold and $1,400 was raised. At subsequent luncheons, as many as 150 ladies have attended with over $3,000 raised. The event not only sponsors the Listowel Breast Health Centre and the Grand River Regional Cancer Centre, but has also provided funding for the Sunflower Seeds Team for Ovarian Cancer.
Over the nine years of luncheons, participants have learned about breast screening, reconstruction surgery, how to look one’s best and eat healthy while battling cancer, but perhaps some of the most inspiring speakers have been those who have shared their personal journeys with cancer.
“The biggest benefit from this luncheon that I never expected was that I would become close to so many women who inspire me with their strength and courage, their grace and friendship while they are busy living life and surviving, or we should say thriving,” Franklin shared with her audience
As she announced this will be the last luncheon, Franklin added, “We’ve created a community of care here in Drayton – breast cancer is no longer something that we don’t talk about. Unfortunately for us, it’s too prevalent to be silent about.”
