Giving cancer survivors a much needed vacation
Everyone needs to get away now and then. But for cancer survivors, having a cottage holiday can mean much more than just a break from the daily grind.
Thanks to the generous donations of Ontario cottage owners, Cottage Dreams sees that empty cottages are made available to recent cancer survivors — giving their families time away to recover, reconnect and rebuild their lives in a natural setting following their treatment.
Working with cottagers across Ontario for the past eight years, sponsor Seana O’Neill has developed a system where cottages are donated to the program based on the cottage owner’s schedules and preferences.
Cottage owners donate their cottages for a one-week period from June to December. The recipients arrive at 2 p.m. Sundays and stay until noon on Fridays.
O'Neill is always looking for donations to keep the organization running, as they don’t get any funding from government or other agencies.
To date, over 1100 families have enjoyed time away through the Cottage Dreams program but with thousands of new cancer cases being diagnosed in Ontario last year, demand exceeds supply.
If you would like to donate some cottage time or otherwise help, please visit Cottage Dreams for more information. Click here if you'd like to request a placement.
Have you ever participated in a progam like this? Comments or suggestions?
By Gordon Powers, MSN Money
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