Whether you’re going through treatment or have come through the other side, there’s a place for you
The Selkirk and District Breast Cancer Support Group has been meeting monthly for 26 years. They are a combination of new and longtime members with the goal of creating awareness and support for those in our community going through or who have gone through breast cancer.
Founding member and Co-Chair of the Selkirk and District Breast Cancer Support Group, Wendy McLeary, explained that the group is quite tight-knit, comprising of people who understand what it means to go through the journey that is breast cancer.
“If you’ve been through a cancer diagnosis, you probably will receive a package from one of the cancer agencies, and our information will be in that package to use if you would like to contact us. We’ve also had our existing members refer people,” McLeary.
Another way that people find out about them is through the posters that are set up at CancerCare and at the Selkirk Regional Health Centre. They are also in the Selkirk Blue Book.
“It’s for people who are newly diagnosed or at any stage of their cancer journey,” McLeary explained.
If you are someone who feels that they would benefit from the support of this group, McLeary asks that you give her a call before stopping by so that she can chat with you about the best way that they can help.
“What I do is I find out about their diagnosis, and I find out a little bit about them and then I explain to them that we do meet monthly, and the format of the meetings. We also have special event meetings and guest speakers. As we talk through that, I also let them know that we do a bi-monthly newsletter, and we have a member group email that you can sign up for and then you can be kept up to date on things that are happening within our group,” she said.
McLeary explained that she gives new members all of these options to participate, as well as the option to talk to someone who is farther along in their cancer journey, because, especially when people are going through treatment, it’s not always possible for them to join in monthly meetings. Additionally, people can have other commitments in their lives that stop them from participating in certain parts of the group, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t need support, so they’ve found offering a variety of support options to be helpful.
“There’s no commitment to attend meetings. It’s what works for you,” said McLeary.
As for the meetings themselves, McLeary explained that they generally follow the same format.
“The first part of the meeting is the sharing piece. Everybody has an opportunity to speak, if they wish. Either talking about what they’re going through at the time, or we do have long-term members like myself, and so we may speak about what’s happened to us in the last month. So that generally will take close to an hour, depending on the number of people at the meeting. Then we break, we have a snack break, and then we go on to our business side of the meeting. Our group has been around for, 26 years so, we do a lot of outreach in the community, and those are things that (we talk about) and we also plan our future meetings,” she said.
As for their community outreach, they keep themselves very busy throughout the year. In June, they present a scholarship bursary to a recent Lord Selkirk Regional Comprehensive Secondary School graduate. They participate in the Terry Fox Run as well as the Paws for a Cause Walk, which supports the Never Alone Cancer Foundation. And, this October, members, though they don’t have an official group this year, will be taking part in the Run for a Cure.
If you would like to support this group’s efforts in our community, Kelly Lewis, the owner of Packers in Selkirk, is hosting her French Dressing Jeans Fundraiser. During the month of October for every signature Packers gets from people trying on French Dressing Jeans, there is no need to buy, she will donate a dollar to the Selkirk and District Breast Cancer Support Group.
“We’re always so happy when Kelly comes forward to support us. I mean, every year, she’s just so generous in her support. We couldn’t thank her enough,” said McLeary.
She explained that the group has stayed together for so long because there is a genuine need to provide support like this in our community.
“When we formed the Selkirk and District Breast Cancer Support Group, what we found was there was a need in the community, and then that need just became constant over the years,” said McLeary.
She explained that, talking to the group recently, there was a newer member who said that the group felt like an extension of her family.
If there is anyone in our community who feels they would benefit from joining the group, please reach out to McLeary at 204-785-2456.
“We’re a very welcoming, supportive group. It’s an informal setting, and it’s entirely up to you how much you want to participate. And, there’s no commitment. Just reach out and call,” said McLeary.
