Fundraising auction planned for Catherine Stanhope
September 3, 2024, 3:46 pm
Kara Kinna
A group of people has come together to raise money for Catherine Stanhope of Rocanville.
Catherine has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. She has had ongoing tests since her initial mammogram in April and will have more tests and medical trips over the next few months, as well as up to six months of chemotherapy, surgery and radiation.
An online silent auction will be held for Catherine from September 22 to September 28, and an account has been set up at Conexus Credit Union for donations. Etransfers can also be made to catherinesmedicalexpenses@gmail.com.
The fundraiser is being organized by Heather Swanson-Tremblay, Carlene Bergstrom, Donna Stanhope, Sandra McCutcheon, and Saron Prazma.
This is Catherine’s second time battling cancer.
“Four years ago she went through cancer, she had a tumor in her neck, and she was just finishing up appointments for that when they found the breast cancer,” says Catherine’s friend Heather Swanson-Tremblay.
“So she’s been waiting five months and now she has five months of treatments. Then she’ll have a rest, a surgery, another rest, then radiation, another rest and then immunotherapy. So she’s going on at least ten months of a lot of trips. They’re hoping to be able to do some in Moosomin but that’s not a guarantee yet.
“Most of the trips will be to Regina. That’s five months which is 20 trips to Regina just for chemotherapy if she has to do them all in Regina.”
“For them (Catherine and her husband Wade), having gone through this once already, it’s quite a hit to the finances to have to turn around and do it again. It’s a scary time,” adds Carlene Bergstrom, who is helping to organize the fundraiser.
Both Catherine and Wade are off work due to Catherine’s medical situation.
“They’re going to be pretty much home-bound because she’s very susceptible to any germs,” says Heather. “She’s not going to get much life outside of their home and he’ll run for the groceries and do that kind of thing but she’s going to be kind of stuck.
“So there’s no income coming in for them.”
The friends says they knew when Catherine was diagnosed for a second time that they had to do something.
“They’ve gone through this once already,” says Heather. “She really wasn’t in favour of a fundraiser last time but when I approached her this time, knowing how much it cost last time, she agreed to let us do it. If we can take a bit of burden off of them, why not?”
“If you’ve ever met Catherine, she is the most bubbly, loving and caring person. She’s amazing,” says Carlene.
“She’s a sweetheart. She’s worked at Conexus and she’s worked at the greenhouse—she’s worked at a lot of places so a lot of people know her and we’re all rooting for her,” says Heather.
“It’s us five friends coming together and the community, trying to help them out through this tough time. It’s nothing that anybody wants to face,” adds Carlene.
The friends say it’s a tough time, but it’s also rewarding to be able to help.
“People have been amazing,” says Heather. “I was collecting silent auction items last week and I went home and sent a voice message out in our group chat that was saying how full my heart was. It’s just unbelievable how amazing people have been and how they respond back when you walk in with this. It’s unbelievable.”
“At a time when you feel helpless to help them, you have to try something. You have to help them. You have to reach out,” says Carlene.
“Most people have been very supportive,” says Heather. “Some people can’t financially help but they’re willing to put the poster up, so I think everybody that we’ve talked to is going to have a huge part in it, whether they donate or they don’t. It’s not always about donating, it’s about getting it out there too.”
Silent auction items can be dropped off at Shear Success Hair Salon, or can be donated by calling Heather at 306-434-8007, Carlene at 306-740-7611, Donna at 306-435-9332, Sandra at 306-435-7961, or Sharon at 306-740-7224.
