Residents of Northwestern Ontario help create a “Home Away from Home”!

On March 17, 2005, the Northern Cancer Research Foundation (NCRF) launched the public portion of its “Home Away from Home” Fundraising Campaign. The goal of this campaign was to raise a minimum of $500,000 to equip and furnish Tamarack House, the new regional cancer patient accommodation facility.

When the campaign launched by the NCRF in March had already raised over $250,000. This accomplishment was possible thanks to fabulous partnerships with lead donors such as TBayTel.

“When TBayTel was first approached by the NCRF to participate in this campaign, we felt that support for Tamarack House deserved strong consideration,” said Ken Esau, Acting President & CEO of TBayTel. “It’s a distinct privilege for TBayTel to reinforce our commitment to the community and the region through this remarkable facility, the TBayTel Tamarack House.”

This support, as well as the phenomenal support from businesses, service clubs and individuals in the region helped the Northern Cancer Research Foundation not only reach its goal of $500,000 but in fact exceed it by nearly $75,000!

“We know the people of Northwestern Ontario are extremely generous and we are all too aware of how cancer affects so many of our family and friends, but we were still pleasantly surprised at how quickly and generously the public responded to the campaign,” stated Brian McKinnon Campaign Chair, “it is very rewarding working for a project like TBayTel Tamarack House as you can easily see the difference it is making for cancer patients from Northwestern Ontario.”

Exceeding the initial goal means that residents of the TBayTel Tamarack House are able to enjoy more amenities to help pass the time between treatment and appointments. “The Tamarack House is more comfortable now,” said Irene DeGagne, an attendant at the lodge. “The ‘home away from home’ is even more homey. Everyone who stays here is really happy about the place.”

Some of the “extra” items that have been provided include an electric BBQ for the outdoor patio, new pots and pans for the residents’ kitchen, larger televisions for the common areas, a shuffleboard, and a Yamaha Piano for the common area. State-of-the-art video phones are also being purchased and should be available to patients by December. These phones will allow patients to see loved ones from far away while they talk on these special phones. All these extras will help to increase people’s comfort levels while they are away from home.

As this campaign comes to a successful end, the residents of Northwestern Ontario should take great pleaser in knowing that they have helped to create something special for their friends, family and neighbours how may have to travel to Thunder Bay for cancer treatments.

The Northern Cancer Research Foundation is the only cancer fundraising agency that keeps 100% of its donations in Northwestern Ontario and is the only organization solely dedicated to supporting the regional cancer centre at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and the regional cancer care program.

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