Infusion fashion show raises money for cancer

Performers entertain at the student run Infusion Fashion Show.

Bursary recipient and cancer survivor Steve Plunkett

After three weeks of abnormally severe headaches, Steve Plunkett collapsed while playing hockey. He was rushed to the hospital where a blood test revealed a drastically elevated white blood cell count.

Plunkett was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 15.

"They told me that I had leukemia and that involves a lot of chemotherapy," said Plunkett of his December 1999 diagnosis. "The aggressive part of the chemotherapy was for about a year... so I wasn't at school for the rest of grade 10 and then I slowly started going back in grade 11. It was a difficult transition."

Plunkett, now a 21-year-old social science student at Western, is one of three cancer survivors honoured this past November with a $2,000 bursary from the student-run Infusion Fashion Show.

The show, which just completed its second year, is a charity event aimed at fundraising for childhood cancer research and cancer survivors like Plunkett. This year, $16,500 was raised through admission costs, sponsorship and a silent auction for the Childhood Cancer Foundation and Western students, Plunkett, Ryan Dobbs and Brandon Henderson.

Founded in 2003 by 23-year-old Western student, Lennie Kwan, Infusion was established to raise money for the London Regional Cancer Centre and to create a scholarship fund. Although the fundraiser was a big success, Kwan found that people weren't as focussed on the cause as he would have liked.

"I needed to bring it down to a more personal level and make people care and understand that what they're doing does make a difference. That's when I looked into cancer survivors," said Kwan.

Kwan, a fifth year MIT and visual arts student, said he felt not enough support was given to survivors during and after their treatment, particularly when it came to finances.

Finances became an issue during the aggressive part of Plunkett's chemotherapy treatment. His mother took nearly a year off of work to stay at home and be with her son.

"I had to go to the hospital a lot, almost four or five times a week so, with that being the case, it's difficult to do a mother's job and a working job," said Plunkett. He says the loss of a year's salary compounded with the fact that he was unable to hold a part-time job like other high school kids was rough on the family financially.

Dr. Lawrence Jardine, head of pediatric oncology and hematology at London's Children's Hospital of Western Ontario and a professor at Western's Schulich School of Medicine, said that health care professionals have also identified a gap in the amount of existing support for young cancer survivors.

In terms of finances, Jardine said many university students are forced to give up part-time jobs because of their treatment and although most of the medical costs are covered, other hidden costs can tax a family's resources.

"Money is a factor in any form of cancer but it is the auxiliary costs like travel, tests and lost opportunities that really make it difficult," said Jardine.

Plunkett says the bursary has helped to relieve some of the stress that inevitably goes along with being a university student. "I thought it was great because I didn't have to worry about taking that loan that many people have to deal with," he said. "It was just one less thing that was on my mind and that helps with school and helps with your personal life."

He says the fashion show is an excellent initiative because while it definitely impacted three individuals on a personal level, it also helped to spread awareness about the struggle of childhood cancer.

"Every bit of knowledge you can get is important because I think cancer does affect a lot of people, maybe not directly but certainly indirectly," he said. "It could be a family member or a family member's friend who is dealing with cancer."

More Information on The Childhood Cancer Foundation:

The Childhood Cancer Foundation is the only national childhood cancer organization in Canada. Founded in 1987, the Foundation achieves its mandate through an agenda of programs and services:

The funding and promotion of childhood cancer research: The Foundation has a unique partnership with all of Canada's 17 childhood cancer hospitals and treatment centres.

Support and resource programs for children with cancer and their families: The Foundation administers nine support programs, including the Bursary Fund, the Benevolent Fund and several programs focused on the provision of information and resources to families at critical stages in their cancer journey.

Issues Advocacy: The Foundation plays a leadership role in advocating for progressive social and healthcare policies in support of childhood cancer.

The Childhood Cancer Foundation operates from an office in Toronto, but maintains close ties to all 39 parent and survivor groups throughout Canada.

Bursaries for Canadian students who have been treated, or are being treated, for a form of childhood cancer are available to applicants between the ages of 17-25. More information about the Bursary Fund, and other Foundation programs, is available by calling 1-800-363-1062, or e-mail at: mlye@childhoodcancer.ca

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