By Kathy Gallant

M.L. brain tumour and cancer awareness campaign underway

May 9, 2018 | 2:00 PM

Brain tumours and cancers are more prevalent than most people know, and a local campaign is hoping to raise both awareness and funds for research into the conditions.

Andrea Cote, pharmacy assistant at Madill’s Drugs in Meadow Lake, recently kick-started a campaign called ‘Shave My Mane For Your Brain,’ promising to shave her head once the fundraising goal is met. The drive will last the entire month of May, which is Brain Tumour Awareness Month.

The cause recently hit home for a second time in Cote’s life. Her son Kevin, who is now 30, was diagnosed with a brain tumour at the age of four, and she recently learned Michelle Jahnke, one of her colleagues at Madill’s, was diagnosed with a brain tumour.

“I thought, how can we make people aware of this, because there are so many types of brain tumours and brain cancers,” Cote said. “There are over 120 different types of brain tumours. Twenty-seven Canadians are diagnosed every day, and 55,000 Canadians are living with brain tumours.”

Cote’s original fundraising goal was $1,000, but she raised it to $2,500 after passing the original benchmark. If the donations reach the new total, she will be getting her head shaved at noon on June 5 at Bliss Salon.

Missing Girl

Have you seen Savannah?

9h ago

Missing person

Spiritwood RCMP searching for missing woman

11h ago

Riding boundaries changing

MP Gary Vidal announces he won't seek re-election

Apr 23, 2024

“We’ve already exceeded what I thought we would raise,” Cote said. “We’re hoping the rest of the month goes well so we can hit that bigger goal.”

Jahnke said she started experiencing headaches before Christmas and was diagnosed with a brain tumour in mid-January. She has gone for regular neurologist appointments since. The tumour has not grown in size, she said, and the specialists believe it is 95 per cent non-malignant.

“Some of the symptoms include more severe headaches, tingling in my ears, and eyesight is one thing too could be affected if it starts to grow,” Jahnke said. “Vomiting too, which is nothing I’ve had yet, and some tingling and loss of mobility in your arms. Luckily, I’ve had none of those yet, just the headaches so far.”  

Jahnke said she’s received a great deal of support from her family, friends, and colleagues. She said she is amazed the community is supporting the cause.

“It’s good that people realize research needs to be done,” Jahnke said. “One of the first things I learned when I first got this is that it’s very common in women, and a lot go undetected because people think it’s just a headache. This was an eye-opener for me.”

Residents can donate directly to the cause at Madill’s or Bliss Salon, or purchase lapel pins for $5 or Grey Matters bracelets for $10. Funds raised will go directly to the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada, which is funded wholly by donations from the public.

kathy.gallant@jpbg.ca

On Twitter @ReporterKath