Finding out about the “Sisters for Life” organization
As most of you know, by day, I’m all about the Seeker, but when the weekend rolls around, I switch gears to become DJ Assistant and Wedding Videographer, teaming up with Sheldon (AKA DJ Shellshock)and let me tell you, I’m absolutely loving every second of it. When you’re doing what you love, it’s never really “work,” right?
A few years ago, we were approached by Kim Casselman and Maureen Robertson about an event that’s incredibly close to their hearts. They asked if we’d be available to DJ and MC for what would become a truly special night. That event is The Ladies Christmas Gala, the main fundraiser for an amazing organization called Sisters for Life.
As someone who’s all about Christmas, this festive, heartwarming event has become my absolute favorite of the year. It’s an honor to be part of it, year after year, so at this time, I wanted to share more about these incredible women and the powerful work they’re doing to support those living with cancer, and anyone affected by it. I had the chance to chat with Maureen, and she was kind enough to answer the Seeker’s 5 (plus) questions… so here we go …
1. Please give us some history behind the “Sisters for Life” and who exactly are the people behind this venture? Since 2013, the “Sisters for Life” has raised over $300,000 what drives your small but mighty team to keep going year after year and what is your goal for this year?
Our Sisters for Life Team is a group of 7 dedicated and determined women who all have roots in Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry and care deeply for our community. We have strong ties as a group as we are friends and family and have known each other for many years. We all have been touched by cancer in some way and know the pain of losing someone important in our lives to cancer.
Our team is fueled to continue this work by different things. Knowing that 2 out of 5 Canadians are expected to have a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime drives home the need for help. Hearing from community members of their family’s experience with cancer – the heartbreak, the fear, the courage and the determination to live life to the fullest drives our team to try to help. Feedback from supporters who tell us how much what we do means to them. This energy is contagious and fuels our team to continue our mission to make a difference. Our goal this year is to surpass $300,000 raised in total. We are very proud to report that 99.5% of our funds raised have been donated – we run a very lean ship.
2. You’ve supported a wide range of programs — Please tell us about who has benefited from your support over the years. How do you decide which causes or initiatives to support each year?
Our team gathers information at the beginning of each year from the Canadian Cancer Society and other organizations or programs which are helping those living with cancer. Together we assess and decide on the donations we will make. We want to understand and be able to share with our supporters what impact the donations we make can have.
Each year we earmark some funds to go to the Canadian Cancer Society. We work with CCS to understand where the greatest need is and the impact the donation can have. We have supported the development of new oncology treatments (immunotherapies and virotherapies), studies of the impact of sugar and oxygen on cancer cells and targeted research for lung, breast, and prostate cancers. We have contributed to clinical cancer trials in Canada through the Canadian Cancer Trials Groups and supported the Wheels of Hope program providing transportation for patients to critical cancer appointments.
We also focus on community organizations and programs that service Cornwall, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry. We have donated to both the Cornwall and Winchester hospitals helping fund equipment for diagnosis and treatment. We have helped Hospice Cornwall provide community outreach programs to palliative care clients and Ronald McDonald House Ottawa to provide nutritious snacks to their families running back and forth between CHEO appointments for their child. We had a chance to prepare a meal for the residents of RMH through their Home for Dinner program and our hearts were full seeing the beautiful home away from home that is created for families facing life’s biggest challenges.
3. The Ladies Christmas Gala seems to have become a signature event. What exactly is this event and what do you think makes it so special, and how has it helped group your fundraising efforts? What date this year will the Christmas Gala be happening and what are the details that one needs to know if they want to be part of it?
Our biggest fundraiser is our Ladies Night Christmas Gala which typically raises approximately $24,000. This November 14th will be our 11th year of hosting this Gala in the Finch Community Centre. Information will be posted in the late summer on our Facebook Group: Sisters for Life – Choose Hope and Anything is Possible.
We provide a venue that is beautifully decorated and includes a professional DJ and a professional photographer. We provide tables filled with beautifully displayed silent auction items that our ladies love. The program for the evening is filled with inspiration and meaning, and of course, lots of fun.
The venue is picture perfect and often described as a winter wonderland; however, the frosting for the evening is the effort the ladies attending put into their tables. They gather their table teams of eight, prepare beautifully curated decorations that compliment our theme, prepare their table treats for the evening and come with open hearts to create an atmosphere of shear joy.
Together we create a fun-filled evening – the opportunity to come together for an evening of fun while supporting a cause that is near and dear to all their hearts – the opportunity to “Party with a Purpose”.
4. I hear that this coming summer you have planned a new fundraiser, your first ever golf tournament coming up June 21st.
Can we get some details please?
Yes, we are excited about giving a golf tournament a try this year. We are hosting a 9- hole fun golf tournament for men and women at Cedar Glen Golf Course in Williamsburg. All funds raised will be donated to the Wheel of Hope Program. It will be a shotgun start at 1 and we are encouraging teams to decorate their carts as “Wheels of Hope” for prizes. The cost is $90 each which includes golf, cart, a delicious chicken BBQ dinner, and prizes. Those who would like to join us for dinner only are welcome – cost is $30.
5. Can you share a moment or story that really stands out to you – one that reminds you why this work matters so much.
Each year at Gala we have a very special moment with our supporters. This is our Tealight Ceremony. When Gala opens the hall is bursting at the seams with activity, chatter and laughter. When we announce the Tealight Ceremony the hall immediately silences and the tealights are lit. In the darkened hall there is the beautiful glow of light from the tealights reminiscent of the glow of the luminaries which line the Relay for Life track. After inspirational words by Rev. Lois Gaudet, we stand in silence to remember why we are gathered as a community. We remember those who are in cancer treatment, those who have survived cancer and we remember those we have lost to cancer. This ceremony unites us as a caring community with a common purpose.
6. Tell us more about the new partnership with Melanoma Canada and the Mole Mobile coming to our area. What do you hope this will achieve in the community?
Last year our team dedicated $10,000 to Melanoma Canada and were able to arrange for their much sought after Mole Mobile to come to our area. In our area it is very difficult to get an appointment with a skin specialist and we know that early detection of skin cancer is critical to improve treatment outcomes and save lives.
The Mole Mobile is scheduled to come to the North Stormont Township office in Berwick on September 7th and will be offering free assessments to community members from the surrounding communities from 10 to 4. We are in early days of finalizing all the details – more information will be posted over the summer on our Facebook Group.
7. How can people get involved, either by volunteering as a “Sister or Mister at Large” or by supporting your fundraising efforts in other ways? Please share your contact information.
It takes many hands to get the work done and being such a small team we rely heavily on volunteers. There are many ways someone can help – donating cash or auction items, helping us with set up at our events, sponsoring a portion of our event (i.e. a golf hole, expenses); helping us fundraise by holding their own event to raise funds to help with our cause.
This year our team is hoping to partner with organizations/groups who would be interested in helping with our mission. We would be happy to get invited to speak at groups who would be interested in learning about our Sisters for Life Team and how they can help.
If anyone would like to contact our Sisters for Life Team, they can message us through Facebook messenger, email [email protected] or call Maureen Robertson at 613-662-2935
