A Palmerston woman was recognized on Nov. 12 for volunteering with the Canadian Cancer Society for 50 years.
Dorothy Rundle, 84, said she didn’t realize she’d been volunteering for half a century.
“I just never thought about it, that’s all, it just was a surprise,” she told the Advertiser in a phone interview.
“I was so busy I didn’t think I had time to go to the appreciation [event] … and I said I wouldn’t go because I was too busy this week and then they called me and they said ‘well you better come, because you’re getting an award and we want you to be there.’”
At the appreciation event Rundle received a certificate, a daffodil gold pin and a bouquet of flowers.
“I was very honoured and very, very humbled,” she said.
Rundle began canvassing for the Canadian Cancer Society in Palmerston when she was 34 years old. She had three small children and since she wasn’t working full time, she wanted to keep busy in other ways. She chose to canvas for the society, often bringing her children along.
“They liked it,” she said. “They liked visiting the old ladies. They remember going with me.”
Rundle also made friendly visits through the society, spending time with cancer patients either in their homes or at the hospital. When she couldn’t make it to a visit, she said she took it upon herself to find a replacement.
“If I couldn’t go and visit then I knew who to call … that would be a good visitor because sometimes that’s what people need is support …” she explained. “Just someone to talk to and to listen to them.”
While she was serving as president of the former Palmerston branch of the Canadian Cancer Society, Rundle helped establish the Palmerston Daffodil Tea, now known as the Lasagna Luncheon, in April to raise money for the society. She still participates in the event to this day.
“She’s always been involved in the community, through the church and other (causes) and the hospital auxiliary and she’s just a real person to volunteer her time,” said Pat Barry, a fellow Canadian Cancer Society volunteer who helps organize the Lasagna Luncheon.
“She’s done lots and we have a cancer luncheon here in the town in April … and she works with me on that and she enjoys it as I do, and I have many volunteers that step up to the plate to help and Dorothy’s right at the forefront there, making her caesar salad.”
Last year the luncheon made about $1,500, with more than 100 plates sold. The luncheon will be held again this April.
Rundle said it’s the cancer research possibilities that keep her motivated.
“There’s so much research being done and so [many] more things being found that can help cancer it makes you have hope,” she said.
“And so you keep hoping that every dollar you raise and every contact you make and everything you do to help is going to help fight this disease and it certainly is being helped. There’s things being found every day.
“I’m just pleased every time I hear that there’s been a breakthrough.”
