Wish granted for young cancer survivor

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This article was published 06/03/2017 (3483 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

SHIVER BALL GALA: A lively crowd in fancy dress descended on the Delta Inn for the 2017 Children’s Wish Gala Feb. 24 to raise money to “bring the magic of happiness and healing to children, families and communities across Canada.” This year a wish was granted to seven-year-old Dawson Smart.

“Dawson’s wish is to go to Legoland in California because he loves Lego, and his whole family will be going with him!” says Children’s Wish development co-ordinator Allie McMorris.

Dawson, looking healthy with a full head of blond hair, arrived at the gala with mom, Amy; dad, Jamie, and sister, Kinley. Dawson has been cancer-free since November and he’s ready to travel. Dawson had Wilms’ tumour, a children’s cancer that attacks the kidneys.

He started his own charity event called the Potato Truck Pull, which raised $106,000 in two years for pediatric oncology studies.

Spotted at the Shivers Ball: host Ace Burpee of 103.1 Virgin Radio, in signature hat and beard; Jim Slater of K9 Storm; Tim Muys from Green Blade; Neil Armstrong, president of Warehouse One; Pit Turenne from Aikens Lake Wilderness Lodge; auctioneers Murray Lowes and Tim Banera; and sales manager Lori Gilfix, telling everyone about “our new station 100.5 F.M. It’s music from the ‘90s!”

At the Free Press table: ace reporter Kevin Rollason with his wife, lawyer Gail MacAulay; nurse Gloria Benham; Iain Coates, the Free Press director of marketing; English teacher Lauren Giese; Canstar’s community newspapers GM Barb Borden with hubby Mark; and Linda Manson from the Law Reform Commission office.

IN THE MOOD: Pianist Ron Paley and soprano Emily Meadows greeted 325 attendees at the Fort Garry Place foyer for the Mood Disorders Association of Manitoba’s In the Mood gala Feb. 25. The ballroom was dressed in vanilla-coloured tablecloths and chairs with lighted candelabras — a warm and intimate atmosphere.

Hundreds of people connected to those affected by mood disorders — family, friends, mental-health professionals and people who fight their own mood disorders — listened attentively.

The theme this year was “peer support,” a term that’s often misunderstood. Deborah Davis, a Mood Disorders volunteer, explains you don’t have to be a medical professional to provide peer support. Most people do have training and personal experience, as well as a sympathetic ear.

“This much-appreciated lifeline is provided either by way of peer drop-ins, peer telephone conversation, one-on-one peer counselling or any number of weekly groups and courses that help those affected and their families learn about self-help,” Davis says.

John Melnick, the winner of the Helping Hands of Hope, started his acceptance speech by telling the gala about the time he was so depressed he swam into the middle of the Red River in a business suit.

Fortunately, he swam back and sought help.

At the end of his speech, he led the whole audience singing words of hope — the last lines of The Rose, made popular by singer Bette Midler. “Just remember in the winter / Far beneath the bitter snows / Lies the seed that with the sun’s love / In the spring becomes the rose.”

The winners of the Helping Hands of Health went to Dr. Jitinder Sareen, Dr. Tanya Sala, Jaquelyne Wong, Dr. Debbie Whitney and Dr. Jolene Kirby. They implemented a cognitive-behaviour course with several clinics and self-help organizations across Manitoba, which reduced wait times and helped people self-manage their conditions. The course is especially needed for people with limited access to services.

SPOTTED: Chief Dan Bear of Brokenhead First Nation, who gave the blessing; Mood Disorders’ VIPs Charlotte Sytnyk and Tara Broussard Snider; gala chairwomen Carolyn Eva Meadows and Kim Lavilla; philanthropists John and Bonnie Buhler; mental-health advocate Bonnie Bricker; plus many psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses and a dozen politicos. Also present were Free Press politics and perspectives editor Shannon Sampert; University of Winnipeg professor of psychology Pauline Pearson; Tracey Woodward from the Free Press’ special product sales; Ian Woodward, manager of engineering at FWS; and Jim Johnston of Quality Dynamics and partner Leslie Johnston.

DISAPPEARED? Competing groups of psychics, Soul Medicine and Rising Moon, both recently closed their shops on Provencher Boulevard.

Where did they go? Well, each owner has started her own solo reading room.

Psychic Bernice Bisson, who created the Soul Medicine Psychic Shoppe collective, which had a dozen readers at its height, is starting her own business at 145 Evanson St.

“I was tired of the (administrative) part as well as doing all my readings and my radio show,” she says, adding that it was time to simplify her life.

People can book readings by emailing soulmedicine136@gmail.com or calling 204-995-8077.

As for her other readers, she says, “I’m glad to pass along contact information for any other favourite readers people are looking for, as those readers were all super loyal to me at Soul Medicine.”

Rachel Stiles of Rising Moon, the little shop with readings and courses next door to Soul Medicine, has set up her new business at 487 Provencher Blvd. Stiles (204-229-8716) specializes in tarot and mediumship. She says people can still book through her website at risingmoon.ca.

Got tips? Cool events happening in your world? Rubbing shoulders with the stars? Email Maureen at mscurf@shaw.ca.