AMHERST – The Mane Event hits the Amherst Golf Club at 1 p.m. this Saturday but, in preparation, Dr. Rosario Hernandez and Dr. Andrea Faryniuk were garnering support, and donations, Saturday on Victoria Street in Amherst.
The two have squared off in a Cumberland Cancer Assistance Fund program fundraising competition, and on Saturday they will have their heads shaved.
“It’s exciting but I’m a little bit nervous,” said Faryniuk. “People seem to be excited about it in the hospital community. I think it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
When they first challenged each other to see who could raise the most money the goal was to raise $10,000, and they currently stand at about $7,000.
“I’m happy with how the whole town has embraced our idea and shown support,” said Hernandez.
Cathy Bragg-Gilmore, cancer patient navigator for the Cumberland Health Authority, was helping Hernandez and Faryniuk raise awareness and funds during Saturday’s event on Victoria Street.
“They’re raising money for the Cumberland Cancer Assistance Fund, and the purpose of the fund is to help people get to their cancer treatments,” said Bragg-Gilmore.
She says 100 per cent of the money raised goes directly to helping patients.
“Almost everybody in this area has to go to Halifax or Moncton for cancer treatment,” said Bragg-Gilmore. “In some cases they have to make 30 or 40 trips, if they’re having radiation that is daily for six weeks.”
Getting treatment would be a significant hardship for people who couldn’t afford to travel for treatment.
“Part of the rational is there might be people who would decide not to have treatment because they can’t afford it, so when I meet with people it’s to make sure they can get to their treatment.” She said.
Bragg-Gilmore currently has a caseload of 60 people from Cumberland County who are seeking cancer treatment.
“So far this year there have been 75 referrals, that’s just Cumberland County, and that’s just a portion of all the people who have been diagnosed with cancer,” she said.
Anybody wishing to donate to the Mane Event can go to http://www.chcfoundation.com.
From there click on Support Us on the top bar.
From there, click on Donate Now on the left hand side of the page, and then go to Your Donation Will Support, and click on the arrow to support either Dr. Hernandez or Dr. Faryniuk.
Another way to donate is to call 902-667-5400, ext. 6210.
Donations can also be made at the Cumberland Health Care Foundation office at the Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre.
Also, donations can be made at the Amherst Golf Club on Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m.
