A team that took part in the recent Sydenham Challenge Dragon Boat festival has went above and beyond once again.
The Stone Pirates dragon boat team not only competed in the annual Wallaceburg event, capturing a bronze medal along the way, they also pooled some funds together for a local cancer survivor.
“A few years ago we decided as a team that since we had a sponsor to cover our entrance fee, we would all contribute some of our own, or donated, money on top of the entrance fee and we would donate that to help someone who was currently battling breast cancer and could use a little physical and emotional encouragement,” said Tawna DeBakker, a member of the Stone Pirates.
This year’s recipient was, Yvette St.Pierre.
“I am not the first survivor this team has done this for,” St.Pierre told the Sydenham Current. They’re an “amazing group of people.”
St. Pierre said while she is a cancer survivor of one year, it has not been a smooth process.
“I had second and third degree burns from radiation and my skin has been too damaged to heal,” said St. Pierre, who lived in Wallaceburg for 13 years before moving to Illinois. I’ve had “11 surgeries since August 2013, just to my right breast area.”
St. Pierre said her next step is 6 weeks in a hyperbaric chamber.
“I will be doing that at Edwards Hospital in Naperville, Illinois. It’s been a struggle with many complications.”
St. Pierre said she shed some happy tears when she heard the Stone Pirates were going to help her.
“It has been a struggle as a single mother, the news couldn’t have come at a better time. I cried when I found out and cried more when I watched the video,” she said.
Tawna deBakker said her sister Eleena created the video for St. Pierre.
“We thought we would send her a video telling her what the races were all about and to show her that we were racing in her name. We wanted to encourage her to keep fighting and to stay strong no matter what came her way.”
View the video here:
DeBakker said their team had raised a substantial amount of money before their final race, but her father decided to up the ante.
“We raised $700 and then my Dad, who was racing with us and sponsored our team through Towell’s Auto Body, pumped us up before our last race by saying if we won he would throw in an extra $300 to bring it up to $1,000.”
Kate Bowen, a member of the Stone Pirates, said St. Croix Memorials had been long-time sponsors of their team, and is the inspiration behind their name.
“Kathy and Phil Bertolini of St. Croix Memorials had a big impact on our team.”
– Photo from YouTube
I was diagnosed with stage 3 invasive lobular carcinoma breast cancer in July of 2013. Since then i have had many complications including beginning a single mother during chemo as my daughter’s father walked out. I have had 11 surgeries just on my right breast area and 13 or 14 all together since Aug 2013. Because of 2nd and 3rd degree burns from radiation my skin was so damaged that even a skin/muscle graph didn’t help, so now i have to do 6 weeks of hyperbaric treatments 5 days a week, 2 hrs a day to help my skin heal. Looking at no less than 3 more surgeries and a recent CT scan showed a small nodule in my right lung we will have to monitor. It definitely has not been easy. On facebook I do inspirational posts that began to help lift my spirits my “Good morning and coffee cheers ” posts. I am honored to say i have remained positive throughout this and that my words have helped many. It is through my desire to spread positive energy that more people started to see something in me. A spirit that wants to fight and encourage others to do the same. My efforts have been recognized and throughthat many of the great people of Wallaceburg have had my back through this struggle even though I no longer live in town. I will get to meet these amazing people at this year’s WAMBO event in Wallaceburg and be able to thank everyone for their amazing support. Wall has an amazing amount of truly caring people and i couldn’t have asked to grow up in a better town .Feel free to follow us on Facebook Yvette Chevy St.Pierre