Canadian Cancer Society holds fundraiser at Kamview Nordic Trails

Cancer’s reach hit home over the Christmas holidays for Jim Cameron.

At the hospital for his final chemotherapy treatment, the Thunder Bay native said he saw a lot of familiar faces seeking the same.
It struck a chord with Cameron, an avid member of the local ski community.

On Saturday, he and his wife, Jocelyne Francis, were front and centre at Kamview Nordic Trails, taking part in the first annual Family Snow Day in support of the Canadian Cancer Society’s ongoing research.

He said he’s seen first-hand the success fundraising can have.

“I think it’s great. We had a friend that as part of the Canadian Cancer Society was introduced to a pill that was developed through the Canadian Cancer Society and the fundraising efforts that have been made,” said Cameron, enjoying an unseasonably warm January afternoon on the trails.

It was an easy cause to support, he added, and not just because he’s suffered from the disease.

“We’ve had a lot of friends who have had cancer,” he said.

Maria Cabral, Northwest Region manager for the Canadian Cancer Society, said the Family Snow Day was launched in Thunder Bay and is expected to be held in other Ontario centres throughout the course of the next month or so.

“What a beautiful day,” she said. “We couldn’t have asked for Mother Nature to help us out any more,” Cabral said.

“There have been a number of registrations and then people just walking up and registering. And there are a lot of new people that have never either cross-country skied or snow-shoed before. This is a perfect time for them to take advantage and try the sport out for the first time.”

In exchange for a donation – a family of six could take part for $75 – Kamview Nordic Trails waived all trail fees for the day.

Manager Peter Crooks said the facility was only too happy to participate.

And he promised it will be back in 2017.

“We’ve been pumping this event for a long time to our membership because we have a lot of people who are suffering from cancer or have beaten cancer and many are here today,” Crooks said.

“We will continue next year. Even if we don’t get thousands this year, maybe next year we will.”