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'It adds up,' says cancer patient

Instead of focusing on the impending loss of her breasts, a Sault Ste. Marie woman is raising funds to pay for parking to help others who are going through a similar illness.

Instead of focusing on the impending loss of her breasts, a Sault Ste. Marie woman is raising funds to pay for parking to help others who are going through a similar illness.

“It’s hard enough that you’re going through any horrible diseases and you’re struggling, but to know you have to have that five dollars on you… It adds up,” said Tracey Dinelle, who has created a crowd-funding effort to raise funds for cancer patients who are being treated at Sault Area Hospital (SAH).

Currently, SAH does not provide parking tokens for patients who visit the hospital on a regular basis for cancer and kidney disease treatments.

“What we do offer those patients who come here on a regular basis is the exact same rate that our employees pay, about 40 dollars a month," said Ron Gagnon, SAH president and CEO.

The campaign hopes to raise $5000 by Wednesday, from which Dinelle will purchase tokens to be distributed to patients who are being treated for cancer.

“I don’t know if it will last for a month or a couple of months. If we can just make someone happy, that is awesome,” she said.

Dinelle, who at one point spent two months receiving radiation treatment five days a week, said the need for parking money can be a drain on families, especially if the illness has forced a patient to be out of work.

So far, the GoFundMe.com crowd-funding has raised almost $500 of the $5,000 target.

Dinelle hopes to meet her target by Wednesday, when she is scheduled to have both of her breasts removed as part of her on-going treatment.

“It hurts knowing you’re going to have that done but you know what? To me they are only breasts. I want to live,” she said.

In an effort to illustrate her fundraising effort, Dinelle posed topless with her two dogs, something she said .

It was difficult getting the dogs to stand still while her husbandd took the photo.

“I didn’t want to be exposed,” she laughed.

Having her dogs be part of the photo was important to Dinelle.

“These are my babies. I wanted to show that I’m OK. I know what’s going to happen to me and I’m still OK. I’m going to go to the next step and fight and have my dogs with me,” she said.

Dinelle said she hopes the nurses who deal with cancer patients will distribute the tokens once purchased, but if that isn’t feasible she said she will distribute them herself.

“A token would put a smile on someone’s face,” she said.

Currently, only SAH volunteers do not pay for parking, said Gagnon.

Dinelle said she wishes the hospital would make allowances for patients who are required to use the parking on a regular basis, including cancer and kidney patients.

“It’s hard enough that you’re going through any horrible diseases and you’re struggling. But to know you have to have that five dollars on you… It adds up.”

-With files from Darren Taylor.

(SUBMITTED PHOTO)


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Kenneth Armstrong

About the Author: Kenneth Armstrong

Kenneth Armstrong is a news reporter and photojournalist who regularly covers municipal government, business and politics and photographs events, sports and features.
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