Sudbury raises flag to mark Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

The Northern Ontario Families of Children with Cancer flag was raised outside Greater Sudbury's city hall on Wednesday by Mayor Paul Lefebvre.

The City of Greater Sudbury marked the commencement of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month with a ceremonial flag raising at city hall on Wednesday. Mayor Paul Lefebvre was joined by three-year-old Gino LeClair, who is battling pleuropulmonary blastoma, to hoist the flag of the Northern Ontario Families of Children with Cancer. The event included the reading of an official mayoral proclamation.

A heavy burden for families

In his remarks, Mayor Lefebvre underscored the significant challenges confronting affected families.

“The burden certainly of having a child going through the treatments… we are lucky we have some here in Sudbury but often they need to go down to Sick Kids as well,” he said.

Lefebvre went on to further explain the event’s purpose.

Critical support for northern families

The charity, Northern Ontario Families of Children with Cancer, was established in 1998 by a group of parents and now provides critical aid to more than 200 families annually through 23 distinct programs. Andrea Fortin, the organization’s program and office coordinator, elaborated on this essential support.

“It can be very isolating for families in the North if you don’t know anyone else who has a child with cancer. You are travelling and taking on all of these… financial difficulties on top of what you are already dealing with emotionally,” she said. “That’s really what our programs are all about.”

Upcoming Gold Soirée fundraiser

The organization’s largest annual fundraiser, the Gold Soirée, is scheduled for Sept. 27 at the United Steelworkers Hall. Tickets for the event are still available.