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walks and a school gym; the park and many endeavours to support the church through the UCW. Dot is one of those people who are always there, knowing you can count on her to be present, supportive and organized. What I really wanted to know however was simply, why? Why was she so involved in her community? Why was the church and UCW so important? Why spend the countless hours she has given, to improving this little slice of Scugog? And why were there so many smiling faces stuck on her fridge? As she sits at her kitchen table, sipping a hot cup of herbal tea, she smiles at the birds that frolic amongst the numerous bird feeders she has scattered in her back garden. She developed a passion for bird watching many years ago, and having grown up on a farm, she had a natural interest in all living things. Dot is warm, kind and philosophical... the birds make her happy, just like being involved in her community does. “When something needs doing, I get up and do it!” She loves keeping busy and ‘doing her part’. She does not recognize however, how special and unique she is; that her warmth and positivity is a gift to others and is a gem rarely found in our world. “Tm just me... I'm not special” is her response to many of my questions. Family is everything to her, married to Roy (aka Hook) for 33 years, they raised two beautiful daughters, Dana and Melissa, who both carry on the generosity their par- —————_ ents instilled in them. “Tam overwhelmed by this community” she states when asked about Green- bank’s inhabitants. “This town is full of siving loving, and generous people In March 2004, at age —_———_ 48, Dot was diagnosed with an advanced breast cancer, her prognosis uncertain. “It was just awful; I was scared” she states reflectively. “Everyone came to the door, meals prepared, house cleaned, gardening done, drives to chemo... all taken care of by friends and family”. It was a tough year; a double-mastectomy followed by months of chemo and radiation. Bald, weak and extremely sick, no one was sure she’d survive but her faith remained. strong. She got stronger, kept busy, living life and enjoying the grandchildren that came shortly thereafter. Her bout with cancer strengthened her faith and introduced her to homeopathy. She takes vitamins and supplements to this day to assist her immunity. As a fellow cancer survivor, Dot and I became fast friends, cancer comrades and warriors in the battle against this monster. Last year, we celebrated our five year milestone victoriously. With a nagging cough and a sore back, she thought maybe a quick check-up was in order. Unfortunately, tests confirmed a survivor's worst fear... recurrence. “Well this just sucks!” she said defiantly. “There’s nothing I can do about it, so I’m just going to keep on go- “When something needs doing, | get up and do it. I’m not special” .. Dot Hooker ing ahead, living my life.” t's breast cancer had metastasized to her spine, a small tumour invading her T-5/6. Radiation has halted progression of the disease. She is comfortable and feeling like herself again after a recent trip to Florida. “My faith is everything... sometimes I ask God for a sign that everything will be ok... 1 ask him to bring a cardinal to my window, and every time, a cardinal has shown up!” Her path is firmly set in faith and positivity - she is peaceful, trusting totally in God’s plan for her life. “This is life, so be it.” Her only concern? Her beloved family - so typical of Dot. We talk about ‘Relay For Life’, the annual 12 hour event hosted locally to celebrate survivors of cancer, to remember loved ones, to fight back against cancer and fundraise. Dot has been a proud ‘Relay’ participant for a number “Well this just sucks, but there’s nothing | can do about it, so I’m just going to keep on going ahead, living my life’ ... Dot Hooker of years and I wanted to know why. “Relay means hope,” she states emphatically. “When I look around, and see all the survivors and I see how long they have lived beyond cancer, it gives me hope”. She loves the Survivor's Victory Lap, the very first lap of the relay that is dedicated to cancer survivors, and they alone get to walk that lap, proudly wearing a bright yel- low survivor's shirt. “I would never miss it” she asserts. Her message to those living with and learning about cancer is the need for prevention. “We need to do more about prevention” says Dot, her voice thick with emotion. “Cancer is everywhere, it seems like it is affecting every- one. We have to do more to prevent it from happening”. Prevention, education, awareness and empowerment are absolute goals of the Canadian Cancer Society. Events like Relay For Life and Elementary Relay For Life are dedicated to this mandate. Join local children as they become ‘cancer-fighti1 heroes on Friday, May 14. More than 2,000 local students will converge at the Port Perry Fairgrounds for Elemen- tary Relay For Life! The two-hour event takes place at 9:30 a.m. with students walking around the track to fight back! Then, join the ‘Relay’ team again Friday, June 25 in Sunderland for the North Durham ‘Relay For Life’. The ‘Relay’ encompasses Scugog, Uxbridge and Brock Town- ships and is being held at the Sunderland Fairgrounds for the second year in a row. Your support is needed. Please consider registering or sponsoring a team, participating as a survivor, buying a luminary or volunteering. To learn more about these events, please go to the bsite: wwiw.cancer/relay or contact event chair Tammy Horvath 905-985-9747. By Tammy Horvath Focus on Scugog FOCUS - MAY 2010 25