Making a difference in the lives of locals battling cancer

The Cancer and Wellness Society has been a staple in the community for years, created by Gail Bablitz and cancer survivor Cheryl Duncan-Molloy. The women saw a need in Whitecourt to support those diagnosed with cancer and decided to kickstart the society. Current president Kim Nendsa said Bablitz and Duncan-Molloy recognized that things can quickly get expensive and that providing help can be all the difference.

When the society receives a referral from a physician, community member, or client, they provide that individual with a special package. “We try to support them financially, so everybody receives a gift card package to help them with gas expenses and to help with food. Everybody we are made aware of and who agrees to a consult or a referral with our program will receive these packages.”

Another part of the support process from the Cancer and Wellness Society is education. Nendsa said they had held programs and a conference where they brought in people from various agencies working with clients with long-term cancer diagnoses or those experiencing end-of-life diagnoses. “We brought them together and had a full-day conference at Hilltop High School. We also provide education for the Whitecourt Healthcare Centre staff working with people who might have cancer.”

Nendsa said the society brought in the LEAP Program, which stands for Learning Essential Approaches to Palliative and End-of-Life Care. They have also brought the Alberta Hospice and Palliative Care Association to Whitecourt, which does an end-of-life trade show. “They talk about things that have to do with cancer or end-of-life care.”

Nendsa said the society hopes to educate the community about what’s available to those living with cancer so that they know where to turn for help if they need it. She said that the new online world created through necessity in the last two years has helped in many ways. “The one thing that the pandemic brought us was access to online support. Online supports through agencies in Edmonton have grown, and we can help connect people to that better because they don’t have to drive, and the costs are reduced.”

The society can also help educate healthcare providers about new cancer care and prevention approaches through the LEAP program. “We can help make a healthier community and help people in our community live better with their illness when they are diagnosed,” explained Nendsa. “The foundation laid by Gail Bablitz and Cheryl Duncan-Molloy is fantastic. They have great connections provincially, and we have had access to some really good solid information, which has benefited our community.”

The society has existed for roughly twenty years, and Nendsa said cancer numbers locally are pretty consistent even though it might seem like more as of late. “I think what everyone has noticed with the pandemic is that people were not seeing their physicians regularly. We are seeing spurts of people getting diagnosed instead of before, when it would have been a steady number throughout the year. Now they seem to come in big clusters, and I think that’s because people were staying home with the pandemic.” She added that waitlists for scans could have also been a factor.

In 2021 the Whitecourt Cancer and Wellness Society was able to distribute 30 card packages ($500 each) of fuel and grocery cards for a total of $15,000.00, plus an extra $3000.00 in fuel cards. Parking costs are a fee that adds up for patients, and last year the society reimbursed one hundred percent of those costs for ten patients, totalling over $900. The group also provided $17,749 in cash grants to seventeen patients. Nendsa said the society is very grateful for the community support they receive. One of the most significant funding sources comes from the Whitecourt Cancer Fighters, also known as the “raffle ticket queens.” They hold events and do raffles, with much of what they raise going to the Whitecourt Cancer and Wellness Society.

The society collaborates closely with the Primary Care Network and their Cancer Navigator Nurse, Willow McIntyre. “We give her our gift card envelopes, and she hands them out. She keeps a record of the people they are handed out to, but we don’t know the names of the people they are going to. We just know that it’s someone with a cancer diagnosis. I’m sure it’s well over 20 or 30 a year. When she runs out, she asks us for more, and we make sure that we give her what she needs,” explained Nendsa.

Though the society doesn’t give out tax receipts for donations, the Whitecourt Cancer Fighters group does, which is why they work together so often. “They used to organize the Boob Tour and did raffles through COVID. The money they raise helps in various ways, including the Cancer & Wellness Society. They receive a lot of help from community businesses, and we help support the Whitecourt Cancer Fighters by helping promote any fundraisers they do.”

Nendsa said the society couldn’t run without the support. “It does make a difference. Everybody who gets the gift card package really appreciates it, especially now with the gas prices. It doesn’t matter how much money you make; a cancer diagnosis is expensive because there is limited local treatment. Everybody has to drive somewhere. Even if it’s to Barrhead, that’s still two hours.”

She said that even if a patient’s partner or good friend took them to their appointments, it could mean taking time off work. “It’s not just a diagnosis for your life. It also affects your lifestyle significantly,” said Nendsa. She said that everyone who supports the Whitecourt Cancer Fighters and the Whitecourt Cancer & Wellness Society is making a huge difference in the lives of locals facing the fight of their life. “This is a community-supporting community; we are proud to be part of it!”