Calendar published to send young cancer patients to camp
By Don RobinetWednesday September 07, 2005
A calendar featuring photos of local young cancer victims and members of the Chatham-Kent Fire Service is available for sale to raise money to send families to camp.
The calendar, called Hero to Hero, is expected to net about $7,000 for Camp Trillium, which operates two facilities in Ontario where young cancer victims can go on vacation with their families and receive treatment while they're there.
Each year, about 1,500 children from across the province attend one of the camps. The cost is $550 per child.
The calendar is a project of Myles' Miracle Mission, named for 12-year-old Myles McLellan of Chatham.
Each page of the 2006 calendar features a different youngster with one or two firefighters. The models are shown undertaking activities they like to do, such as fishing, playing music, or posing around fire trucks, or with pets.
Myles' mother Susan McLellan says, "Each of the guys was partnered with child who has cancer."
Three of the pages serve as memorials to cancer victims.
Each month, there are tips on how to help families that have been affected by cancer, such as running errands, cooking and cleaning for them, or providing them with gift gas cards to help them get back and forth to medical appointments.
The calendar also lists websites that provide tips on making better choices for health and the environment.
"This helps bring awareness of childhood cancer to Chatham-Kent," says McLellan, who adds that cancer in children poses different problems.
"Cancer is an illness that most people associate with adults. These children need support from their entire communities. They need emotional and spiritual support as well as physical treatments that are much different than treatments for adults. We all need to remember that they are children, not little adults," says McLellan.
Calendars are $20 and are available at the following locations: CIBC banks, Unigasco Credit Union, Crabby Joe's, Glasshouse Nursery, Wal-Mart, City Pharmacy and at fire stations 1 and 2 in Chatham and station 3 in Wallaceburg. Those who wish to order online by credit card can do so after Sept. 12 by visiting www.myles.ckspeaks.ca.
Anyone who wishes to help with the sale of calendars or who would like more information may call 354-1849.
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