Jean Dolan-Smith and volunteer Jean, help sell  50-50 draw tickets.
Daffodil tea raises funds for breast cancer
Family Council supports Imamovic in 60-km walk
Thursday April 3, 2008 -- Camille Jensen
Springdale family council hosted a Sunday daffodil tea to raise funds for administrator Maureen Imamovic’s walk for cancer.

Do’ Furness, chair of the family council, says it was resident Jean Dolan-Smith who suggested the event as kick-off for the administrator’s future fundraising.

Imamovic, and nine other OMNI staff members, will be participating in the 60-kilometre Weekend Walk to End Breast Cancer held Sept. 6 and 7 in Toronto.

Last year, chief operating officer Candace Chartier, participated in the breast cancer walk, raising $4,500 for the cause. Chartier says the issue is important at OMNI, having afflicted residents, staff and their families.

Wanting to do more, Chartier encouraged staff members to join her this year with a goal of raising $20,000. Each of OMNI’s ten team members will need to raise $2,000 to complete the goal.

To help Imamovic reach her necessary goal, Springdale held the daffodil tea Sunday, March 30, serving sandwiches and cheesecake to residents, families and staff.

The family council handed out pledge sheets at the event and had a 50-50 draw, with half the proceeds going to Imamovic’s as her first pledge.

Ironically, the winner of the 50-50 draw was Imamovic’s husband, Dado. Dado used his winnings to help contribute towards the cost of the event, buying flowers from the family council and then donating the rest of the money to his wife.

Maureen receives pledge money from Norine Fraley

“Dado was very generous,” says Furness, who adds the staff also bought plants to help the family council pay for the event.

Imamovic says seeing everybody contributing was touching.

“Its nice to feel supported and that they have respect for me,” she says.

Imamovic was first drawn to the cause for personal reasons, her mother being a two-time cancer survivor. 

“My mom survived breast cancer twice, surely I can walk 60 kilometres in two days,” says Imamovic.

In the future, the family council hopes to hold similar events to help Imamovic reach her goal.

Anyone interested in donating to the OMNI fundraiser can contact the home at (705) 742-8811.

Is your home doing something to help raise funds for the 2008 Weekend Walk to End Breast Cancer?

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