A local cancer survivor who has raised more than $18,000 for breast cancer and to assist those fighting the disease has donated a “Bench of Hope” to accompany a healing garden in Centennial Park in Coniston.
The bench is a fitting addition to the healing garden, which was erected in honour of that cancer survivor, Kimberley Wahamaa-Deschenes, while she was undergoing cancer treatment a decade ago.
“Ten years ago today at 2 p.m., I was diagnosed,” she told a small crowd of supporters on hand for the unveiling of the Bench of Hope.
“I wanted to do something special for Coniston as you dedicated the Healing Garden in my name when I was going through my treatments. Thank you to the Northern Cancer Foundation and to Centis Tile for partnering with me on this initiative for my 10th anniversary of survivorship. The Bench of Hope will be a seat to pray, and reflect as you look into the Healing Garden filled with beautiful coloured flowers.”
She recalls that when she received her breast cancer diagnosis, she was given a little pink bag containing a pillow, a poem and some treatment info.
“I’ve gotten better loot from a golf tournament,” Wahamaa-Deschenes said.
And so, her charity effort, which she called Trust Your Bust, was born. The first order of business was the Pink Bag Project — women receiving a breast cancer diagnosis deserve a better loot bag, she figured, “something to give [women] some empowerment, to give [them] strength.”
Four chemotherapy rounds and 30 cycles of radiation later, Wahamaa-Deschenes was cancer-free and still giving back, raising funds for breast cancer research and to assist people going through treatment, and to raise awareness of the need for early detection.
Now, 10 years later, she said she is hanging up her bra, she said.
She highlighted some key memories of the past decade of Trust Your Bust. She spoke of a presentation she gave to the first-year students at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (now NOSM U) and how her presentation was adopted as part of their curriculum.
She mentioned memorable fundraisers she held, her favourite being the Trust Your Bust Night at a Sudbury Wolves game that saw her skate around the ice in a special Wolves jersey, gifted to her by team owner Dario Zulich, sporting a pink wig.
“So today, June 6, my 10th anniversary, I’m hanging up my bra,” Wahamaa-Deschenes said. “Remember to trust your bust, trust your body. Early detection is key.”
Also on hand for the event was Kristofer Cacciotti, the community engagement and events specialist with the Northern Cancer Foundation.
“We’re here to celebrate a decade of persistence, resilience, courage and teachings,” Cacciotti said. “Thank you to Kim for sharing her strength and her story, a story that inspires countless individuals to take the next step forward in their cancer journey.”
