The West Island Cancer Wellness Centre (WICWC) is excited to announce that a generous benefactor, Mr. Tony Bartolini, has offered the Centre a house to be used for wellness retreats. As a result, the West Island Cancer Wellness Retreat Centre will soon be launched in a beautiful location 45 minutes north of Montreal. The retreat centre makes it possible for the WICWC to meet another important need of people living with cancer.
We are so incredibly grateful to Mr. Bartolini for the opportunity to hold cancer wellness retreats for our participants. His gesture allows cancer patients the opportunity to get away. In most cases travel is no longer possible because of a change in finances, restrictions due to treatments or lack of insurance, said Debbie Magwood, Executive Director of West Island Cancer Wellness Centre.
A cancer diagnosis affects much more than the part of the body with cancer. Along with the physical consequences, it has an impact on a person’s spiritual, emotional, social and financial well being. The prospect of participating in a wellness retreat without worrying about the cost or lack of travel insurance fills a need felt by many people living with cancer. Planning is in progress for the first retreat to be offered at the Centre.
Several companies and individuals also helped to make the retreat centre a reality. Fifteen new bed mattresses were generously donated and delivered by Endy. Launched in 2015, Endy is the leading online mattress brand in Canada and works closely with Canadian charities to donate new and gently used mattresses. Mr. Nick Landriault generously offered to build 15 bed frames for the retreat centre. Matelas Bonheur donated 20 Zedbed pillows. Several individuals also donated furniture, decorative items, dishes and other items and Westmount Moving graciously moved them to the retreat centre.
The WICWC was founded to respond to the urgent need for psycho-social cancer care. While traditional therapy treats the cancer, the Centre’s free programs address the emotional, physical and spiritual needs of people living with cancer. The wellness retreats, which are in the planning stages, will be an important addition to its current programs that teach people how to live well with cancer.
The WICWC is a registered Canadian charity that does not receive government or Centraide funding. It relies on the generosity of foundations, corporations and the community to continue to offer its services and programs at no cost. For more information, visit: www.wicwc.org.
