April is Cancer month

Ken Johnston

Every spring the first flowers to push through the ground and bloom are daffodils. Not only do they bring hope for a beautiful summer, they symbolize hope for people suffering from cancer.
This week the Rainy River branch of the Canadian Cancer Society is soliciting donations in exchange for “Blooms of Hope” (daffodils). In keeping with their annual fund raising drive daffodils are being sold for $5 per bunch. Order forms are available at businesses in Rainy River, Stratton and Bergland.
Orders will be taken until this Saturday and the flowers will arrive on March 30th. The Rainy River Hospital Auxiliary will then deliver them.
Long time Rainy River Cancer Society member, Laurene Hannam, said. “We expect to sell 200 bunches this year which is a typical year, raising close to $1,000.”
The money is then sent to the regional office for the Cancer Society in Thunder Bay. It is then kept in the region to help with local needs throughout Northwestern Ontario.
The Daffodil Drive typically kicks off Cancer Month. During April a door to door canvassing will take place utilizing volunteers in the community. Jeanette Armstrong is organizing that effort this year and is looking for volunteers to help out. She can be reached at 852-4489.
For many years the Rainy River Cancer Society organized a spring tea. However, in recent years the membership in the local branch has dwindled to a very small group making organizing a tea next to impossible. Hannam said that they are looking for new members and anyone interested can call her at 852-3573.