Daffodil pins make their return for Daffodil Month

Canadian Cancer Society looks to match last year’s $64,665

Cancer survivors and volunteers will be helping the local cancer society raise money as its annual daffodil sale gets underway.

Members of the cancer society and volunteers will be selling daffodil pins in Loblaws chain stores across the country to raise money for cancer awareness, treatment and support. The society has also brought back daffodil flowers to sell in addition to the pins.

Survivor of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and volunteer with the cancer society, Jeff Casey, said his story with cancer and the society was on the dramatic side.

“I was diagnosed the day after my daughter was born and we were going through a difficult time, as everyone does when they’re diagnosed with cancer,” said Casey. “We were somewhat fortunate that we had a new daughter because that was a main focus for us at the time and brought us a lot of happiness and joy.”

Casey said of all the services the society has to offer, their support groups and systems are the greatest.

“When you’re diagnosed with cancer you can call the peer support hotline and they create a profile for you and they match you with somebody that is of similar age and sex and situation,” said Casey. “It’s nice to feel you have that person as a resource and friend that you can talk to.”

Casey, now cancer free, volunteers his time with the support systems and will lead a money-raising team on Dougall Avenue during Daffodil month.

Judy Lund, manager of the Canadian Cancer Society of Windsor and Essex County, said it’s important for people to come out to these events because the society’s mission is very important and affects many in the population.

“Due to work from organizations like the Canadian Cancer Society more people are surviving from cancer than ever before and we have support services to aid them while they’re fighting,” said Lund. “However, with our growing population, you will find more people are still facing cancer and that shows that there is more work that still needs to be done.”

According to Lund, the five-year survival rate of prostate is 96 per cent, breast cancer is 88 per cent, childhood is 83 per cent and colorectal is 65. Lund said right now the society is directing its funds to look at treatments and earlier detection.

“More people are surviving now because of all the research that was funded in the past, so we need to keep that progress going,” said Lund. “We also have helped over 15,000 people locally with things like appointments, treatment and anything costly in the process to getting better.”

The society is also creating the yellow brick road at the Devonshire Mall where people can purchase a brick decal and help build a yellow brick road in the main halls.

For more information on the society visit www.cancer.ca.