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34 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday February 21, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com Working to make cancer history Continued from page 36 all of whom arrived in town around the same time. Zinkewich devised a free daffodil give-away at his Royal Bank location downtown that came with a card that said "Thank you for purchasing a daffodil, please be generous when your canvasser comes to call." That began the Oakville Daffodil Campaign. Gibb said, "People wouldn't take them (daffodils) for nothing. We couldn't give them away." Gibb remembers, too, the warmth and kindness Smith exuded to all who walked into her home. Gibb began to feel at home in Oakville. She recalls being quite ill and in hospital when the CCS Ontario Division heard the "Dynamite" was around and got a call asking what she was doing in hospital when she was needed for fundraising at the Ontario Division. Gibb said she remembers going through the Oakville phone book looking for volunteer canvassers. She's been Oakville Unit president for two terms, in 1988/89 and again in 1990/91 and served as well on the CCS' National Board. She's president again. "If someone wants my job, just call Joan," Gibb laughs now, again, serving as Unit president. Gibb said it was easy working on Bay Street to volunteer at the national office, which is located in Toronto and the "The Relay for Life is the most emotionally gratifying event in my 40-year career." Joan Gibb, president Canadian Cancer Society, Oakville Unit Ontario Division whose office is on Yonge Street. At the national office she represented the Ontario Division for four years doing public relations and campaign work. At the Ontario Division, Gibb worked 10 years as public relations and campaign chair. Now retired from her career, Gibb still goes door to door and still sells daffodils. In later years, Terry Fox was the reason she stayed. Fox was her guest in Oakville. "Terry Fox was driven like no one I've ever met. He was absolutely focused that we can beat this disease," said Gibb. More recently the Relay for Life has again inspired Gibb. "There are so many survivors," she said. "The Relay for Life is the most emotionally gratifying event in my 40-year career," said Gibb. The Oakville Unit was among the first in Ontario to hold the Relay for Life. Leafing through Gibb's hefty scrapbook, the details are intriguing. The Oakville Unit, which astoundingly raised $2,500 in 1957, raised $8,000 in 1982 and $1.1 million in 2006. "We work harder and a lot smarter," said Gibb, noting the social aspect of volunteering at the Oakville Unit, though it still exists, goes hand in hand with a business attitude, too. Yet it remains a constant struggle. Gibb said the trend of women and seniors working outside the home has made it tougher to recruit volunteers. That said however, today there are many positions open for volunteers and staff to assist with Information Outreach, fundraising, fun events and more. One of the newest volunteer positions is that of public issues for volunteers. They participate as part of a provincial team. The advocacy participation at the grass roots helps in advocating for healthy public policies. "This helps our Society to identify and take action on cancer control issues which warrant advocacy and develop strategies to lobby for appropriate programs and legislative action," said Gibb. "Our priority issue has been the by-law banning ornamental pesticides and a law banning suntan studios from allowing children under 18 from using their tanning beds," said Gibb. "I believe the Oakville Unit has the highest quality of volunteers and staff to follow through on all facets of the society's mission which is, "the eradication of cancer and to enhance the life of those living with the disease," said Gibb. What keeps Gibb going today are the lives of people, especially young people. Jean Malcolm Smith "We must ensure we don't lose a teenager to this insidious disease and not fight back," said Gibb, noting twotime leukemia survivor, Shayna McDonald who hasn't even yet attained teenagehood. "That definitely is my number one motivator," said a determined Gibb who recalled speaking at a Relay for Life event and being struck by the sea of volunteers and survivors that looked back at her. The Oakville Unit has an impressive 50-year history -- as documented on its Hall of Fame, a wall full of photos that capture the many special moments. What began in the living room of Jean Smith's home has grown into an organization that has 10 volunteers on its Council, 16 more volunteers who assist in the office, two transportation convenors and 60 volunteer drivers (more are always needed) seven peer support volunteers who host support groups and provide telephone and home visit support, a Daffodil Days chair, 114 volunteers who help sell and deliver the flowers as well as count donations; a residential campaign led by a chair, 37 area capitals, 559 team captains and thousands of canvassers; and a Relay for Life team led by two event co-chairs, 12 steering committee volunteers, 112 volunteers who help run the event and more than 2,000 runners who participate, not to mention the support of host Appleby College. In 2006, the Daffodil Days Campaign (which runs March 29-April 1) raised $45,000; the Residential Canvass Campaign that begins April 1 (heralded by the daffodil sales) raised $178,000; the Relay for Life (Appleby College) $537,000 -- with relays at Oakville Trafalgar High School bringing in $60,000; Iroquois Ridge High School ($17,000) and Fernhill Elementary School ($50,000). The third annual Flavour for Life dinner/fashion show event raised $16,000, while history was made again on Nov. 5 as the first Taking Steps Against Breast Cancer event at Oakville Place raised more than $23,000. Pre-Season BBQ Sale Best Prices of the Season ON NOW! Please give. Together, we can build a healthy, caring and inclusive community, for us all. In Stock In Store Specials February 1 - February 28 To donate: United Way of Oakville 466 Speers Rd, Suite 200 Oakville ON L6K 3W9 (905) 845-5571 Online: www.uwoakville.org *6 month deferral O.A.C. "MASONRY & FIREPLACE DESIGN SPECIALISTS" w w w. c o b b l e s t o n e m b e r s . c o m ACROSS FROM RONA LANSING 905.337.2066 406 SPEERS RD., OAKVILLE