Celebrating our Volunteers during National Volunteer Week
April 17, 2013
“Our 1,000 volunteers are at the very heart of Ovarian Cancer Canada,” says CEO Elisabeth Ross. “We simply could not achieve our mandate to overcome ovarian cancer without the generosity of volunteers who donate their time, skills and passion to this most deserving cause. We thank each volunteer for all you do every day of the year.”
Trained Ovarian Cancer Canada volunteers deliver awareness and education programs; run information booths at conferences, exhibits and trade shows; and assist in our regional offices across the country. Volunteers organize the Ovarian Cancer Canada Walk of Hope in communities large and small; they plan and implement events such as LOVE HER, and organize community events to raise funds and increase awareness of Canada’s most fatal women’s cancer.
Through our regional offices, Seeds of Hope Newswire invited volunteers from across the country to share their Ovarian Cancer Canada volunteer experiences in their own words. Enjoy!
PACIFIC REGION: Helena Tse
Constructing a link between Ovarian Cancer Canada and her high school
Helena Tse presents Ovarian Cancer: Knowledge is Power awareness program to fellow students.
I am Helena Tse, a grade 12 student from Burnaby, British Columbia. My cousin, who is one year younger than I am, was diagnosed with cancer in 2011. This is my second year as an Ovarian Cancer Canada volunteer and I feel honoured to be constructing a link between Ovarian Cancer Canada and my high school, Burnaby South Secondary.
As the president of Rebels’ Reach for Cancer Club, I have the opportunity to initiate campaigns and increase youth awareness about ovarian cancer. I understand many teens are indifferent towards cancer as we feel we are too young to encounter such life-threatening diseases.
Our cancer club has hosted Ovarian Cancer Canada’s Knowledge is Power awareness presentation twice in the Michael J. Fox Theatre located right beside our school. Although I am not the smoothest speaker, I felt it was important for me to speak to fellow students and demonstrate a positive attitude towards learning about ovarian cancer. It was tremendously rewarding, knowing that the presentation educated the 300 audience members and gave them important information that will assist them in the future.
It has been a challenging yet very rewarding journey. The campaigns we execute may be overlooked by some but we know they have reached many others. We also feel the deep appreciation of those who have been affected by cancer. I am very proud to be a volunteer of Ovarian Cancer Canada and although I plan to leave BC for my post-secondary education, I will continue to be a dedicated volunteer with Ovarian Cancer Canada.
WESTERN REGION: Cindy Sanchez and Christa Slatnik
Saving lives by increasing awareness
Cindy Sanchez (left) and twin sister Christa Slatnik, co-chairs of the Ovarian Cancer Canada Walk of Hope in Winnipeg with family members at the 2012 event.
Our names are Cindy Sanchez and Christa Slatnik and we are the volunteer Co-Chairs for Winnipeg's Ovarian Cancer Canada Walk of Hope. We have been a part of the Winnipeg Walk since it initiated in 2004. We started as spokeswomen our first year of the Walk, sharing our story about how we lost our mother in 2000 to ovarian cancer. We then started as Co-Chairs of the Walk in 2005 and have been volunteering in these roles ever since.
We are also both gyne-oncology nurses and work with the same team of doctors that were a part of our mother's diagnosis and treatment. Christa has recently become a nurse practitioner and continues to work directly with the gyne-oncology team at CancerCare Manitoba and with ovarian cancer patients.
We are both passionate about fighting ovarian cancer, now not only for our mother and her memory, but also for the many amazing women and families affected by ovarian cancer that we have met over the past 13 years as nurses and during the last 10 years as volunteers with Ovarian Cancer Canada.
By volunteering, we hope to save lives by increasing the awareness of this disease and ultimately find a cure. We've been privileged to meet and work with so many volunteers since we started our journey with Ovarian Cancer Canada and continue to be inspired by the passion that is shared by so many people!
ONTARIO REGION: Brian Wynn
Giving back for the women in his life
Brian Wynn
After many years volunteering in sport and at the church, I found myself considering the invitation to join the Ovarian Cancer Canada Board of Directors. Not only was this an opportunity to deal with matters in the health care field, it was a chance to “give back.” At first, I was somewhat diffident about being a male in the women’s cancer arena. But Elisabeth Ross skillfully convinced me that there is a role to play and that I might add to the mix.
During my wife’s battle with the disease I watched so many people support us in quiet, effective ways – people drawing blood, nurses translating what the doctor had just said, social workers, Look Good Feel Better, Jenny the clinic receptionist who blew me away when she visited at the funeral home. I guess my attitude is that we have a chain and it will be broken if those who have some experience with the battle just walk away and mope in the night.
Cancer is an affront. Our volunteer efforts are the fight back. It’s a fight for all women, a fight for their loved ones, a fight for the communities they build and serve.
As my daughter once told me when considering her mother’s battle and death, “Dad, we all just play the cards we are dealt. Mom taught me that.” There are so many people out there playing those hands, conducting their private battles, valiantly managing their lives. If we, as volunteers, can ease or improve their daily challenges . . . that will make a difference.
QUEBEC REGION: Maria-Luise Hagemeister
Devoting her time and efforts to supporting women and to spreading awareness
Maria-Luise Hagemeister
I am a long-time volunteer with Ovarian Cancer Canada, having started in 2004 before there was a Quebec Regional Office. Years ago, during a public ovarian cancer awareness conference, one of our support group members challenged us to initiate the Ovarian Cancer Canada Walk of Hope in Montreal. I worked on promoting awareness and educating people about ovarian cancer as part of the Walk and during the rest of the year. I am no longer part of the organizing committee but I do volunteer to help each year at the Montreal Walk.
I decided my best contribution is participating in awareness programs, and to be of support to women and their families who are affected by this devastating disease. I am a long-time survivor, having been diagnosed with stage IIIc ovarian cancer in 1998.
Despite a recurrence four years later, I am still on this planet. Being retired and in good health, I have the privilege to choose my priorities – devoting my time and efforts to supporting women and to spreading awareness about a disease that takes far too many wonderful women from us. Ovarian Cancer Canada’s Knowledge is Power program has permitted me to tell my story, and to share information on awareness, prevention and the importance of women being informed.
As a volunteer of the Montreal Jewish General Hospital “Hope and Cope” program, which focuses on cancer issues, I have an opportunity to let people know about Ovarian Cancer Canada. My personal awareness program is in the trunk of my car, where I keep Ovarian Cancer Canada information materials at hand for whenever I meet someone who does not know about the disease.
ATLANTIC REGION: Catherine Cai
Gaining confidence by spreading awareness
Catherine Cai (right) and fellow student promote ovarian cancer awareness at Acadia University.
I am Yijing (Catherine) Cai and currently live in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. I am an international student from China and I started volunteering with Ovarian Cancer Canada in my second year in Vancouver. I plan to work in the field of health and want to educate more people to listen to their bodies.
I found this volunteer opportunity through the Internet. It has been rewarding to see people gain more knowledge about this cancer and understand that Knowledge is Power. When I first started volunteering, I was not confident with my level of English. As Pacific Regional Manager, Tracy’s enthusiasm, welcoming nature, and level of trust encouraged me to take on more responsibilities and be confident.
I started to volunteer at health fairs. Additionally, I joined the awareness committee and participated in the process of helping more people to learn about ovarian cancer. I can still remember my first health fair on behalf of Ovarian Cancer Canada with Skylar, who was Awareness Coordinator at that time. I stayed behind the table and was scared to approach people. Skylar set a good example by welcoming people as they came.
After I moved to Nova Scotia, I contacted Emilie, the Atlantic Regional Manager, and continued to volunteer with Ovarian Cancer Canada. This also inspired me to form a campus club, AwareAcadia at Acadia University, to raise awareness and do fundraising activities for health-related organizations. Ovarian Cancer Canada has helped me to grow from a shy girl to a president of a university campus club! If any of you are considering volunteering for Ovarian Cancer Canada, SIGN UP! This amazing organization will help you to network with inspiring people and give you all the support and opportunity you are looking for.