Maria Can’t Imagine Life Without Wellspring 
By Joyce George-Knight

When Maria Whipps visited Wellspring Chinguacousy for the first time, her connection was immediate.  “To my surprise I was in a beautiful home where I found the atmosphere so inviting”.  

Diagnosed three and a half years ago with Multiple Myeloma, a blood cancer where the white cells attack the bone tissue, she attributes Revlimid, administered with steroids as being responsible for giving her energy and removing pain.  Maria has faced the fact that her cancer is treatable but not curable. She’s on palliative care to maintain her quality of life.   One might say that her motto is, “Accept the cancer and then you can go on.”  Instead of being angry with her diagnosis, this feisty yet delicate woman believes that “Cancer was an enormous lesson for me. We complain about the past and worry about the future when what we should be doing is focusing on the present moment.  Cancer changes you, hopefully for the better.”

While she has attended many programs at Wellspring Chinguacousy it’s the human contact and the positive energy she feels there that has helped her the most.   “Wellspring gives you the tools to let go of stress and resentment in order to cope with day-to-day living.  But, it’s the positive energy and the common element of cancer that have helped me the most.   There’s energy in there that makes me feel very relaxed and welcome.”  Maria also takes advantage of Wellspring’s free transportation services to attend programs.

“Relaxation and Visualization is one of my favorite programs because there’s a lot of dialogue and a lively exchange and sharing.  We do a meditation and then the leader invites members to share with the group. There’s always a core group, and a few new members each week, so it varies a little bit.”

Maria also enjoys the Knitting Program, held every Friday.  “Knitting has a certain rhythm that is very relaxing.  It’s an open forum so we can talk about the silliest things.   If you don’t want to talk, you don’t have to.” Before the group begins or at breaks, many participants sit around the kitchen table enjoying coffee and tea together. Some bring their lunch, while others bring cookies or Indian food to share.

Maria is also a regular monthly donor. “We are given so much at Wellspring that we should give a little bit back.” After a bit of thought, she adds, “I wish I could give more.   If you spend say ten hours at a place week after week after week, like I do, you should give something”.    However, Maria’s main reason for being a donor is that “Wellspring is in my heart, it’s really part of me.  I couldn’t imagine life without Wellspring”.

Writing for the Health of It
– A Member’s Perspective
By Joyce George-Knight

There we were at the first of eight sessions of Writing for the Health of It. Since it was the program’s debut at Wellspring Chinguacousy, none of the seven of us knew exactly what to expect, but we were game.

Our facilitator‘s gentle manner created a safe environment in which we could share our deepest feelings and experiences, if we so desired.  She made it clear that this wasn’t about our writing ability or technique.   Instead, the purpose was to get memories onto paper, to consider things we wanted to change in our lives, and to write about our hopes and fears for the future.  Rather than solving problems, through writing we would work through them, along with any challenges that lay ahead.

This was my first experience attending a Wellspring program. What I found to be most fascinating was each person’s response to the writing assignment. With absolute freedom to write what surfaced within us, some responded to the exact question or statement, while others elected to either tell a story aloud or they wrote on a different aspect altogether. We learned that none was incorrect. For what was important was reflecting on the topic, being introspective and seeking our respective responses and then getting out what emerged from inside each one of us in a presentable format.

It was through the interest from other women writers in the group that our confidence grew both in writing and in sharing. We evolved into more confident women, who weren’t embarrassed about participating in a “show and tell” exercise or to laugh at ourselves or shed a few tears as we dug deep and cheered each other on.  By the last session, we had a better understanding of ourselves and a deepened respect for the road each of us is travelling through our respective cancer journeys.

Writing for the Health of It is one of 26 cancer support programs being offered at Wellspring Chingaucousy.   For more program information visit www.wellspring.ca/chinguacousy-brampton

Butterfly Gala 2010 Presented by Mayor Susan Fennell
The Wellspring Chinguacousy Foundation wishes to thank the supporters, volunteers and attendees of the 3rd Annual Butterfly Gala held at the Rose Theatre on April 16, 2010. This year’s show featured a talented group of Music Theatre Program students from Sheridan College performing music from the popular TV series “Glee”.   Your participation generated $20,000 in net proceeds, funding which enables us to continue to offer cancer support programs free of charge to individuals and families.

Steve Hutton and the Sled Ride of Hope

When Steve Hutton’s Dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1999 he saw the need to raise public awareness, so he formed the Prostate Extreme Team (PET).   In 2005, after being inspired by the Kelly Shires Breast Cancer Snow Run, he decided to do his own snowmobile event.   The Sled Ride of Hope was created “because of what happened to my Dad and I am also an avid snowmobiler so it just made sense to combine my passion for prostate cancer awareness with the sport I love”.  

Wellspring was chosen as the recipient for proceeds from the February 13, 2010 event held in Parry Sound, because Steve has always wanted to help prostate cancer survivors directly.  “Wellspring does so much for survivors of not only prostate cancer but all cancers and we are now strong supporters”.

The Foundation would like to thank Steve Hutton, his Dad (who is still fighting the fight), PET and the 65 riders who collected over $12,000 in pledges.  A portion of these funds are being used to support the centre’s first ever Prostate Cancer Exercise program which launched in May 2010.

Announcements

New Board Member
Gael Miles, President of the Wellspring Chinguacousy Foundation is pleased to announce that Caledon Mayor Marolyn Morrison has been appointed to the Board of Directors.   Mayor Morrison brings a wealth of experience to her Board position and will be the driving force behind building awareness of the centre in the Caledon community.

New Partner
The Thomas family who own and operate New Directions Aromatics (NDA) recently formed a partnership with Wellspring because it is a cause close to their hearts.   In December 2009, Abraham Thomas the founder of NDA in Sydney, Australia and brother of Alex Thomas, the Canadian CEO, was diagnosed with terminal cancer.   In honor of Abraham, NDA will be donating two percent of sales from their new retail line called POYA (meaning “pure”) that features, skin, bath and hair care products.  For product/order information visit: www.newdirectionsaromatics.com

Acknowledgements

The Foundation would like to thank everyone who has recently supported Wellspring Chinguacousy, especially the following generous contributors:

Thank you to our Founding Partners who contributed to their Foundation pledges over the past year:

Candevcon Ltd.                                          Medallion Homes
Giampaolo Foundation                                 Mattamy Homes
Greenpark Group of Companies                   Metrus Development Inc.
Hydro One Brampton                                  Townwood Homes