Fighting cancer one head at a time

BY MARC LALONDE

marc.lalonde@transcontinental.ca

The plight of cancer can do strange things to people; it can drive some to action, and others to distraction.

When you’re talking about children, though, it’s a whole different story.

For Ile Bizard resident Gisele Plourde, dealing with her daughter’s leukemia has been a long, hard battle. It’s an emotional battle, and one that might need to be fought again someday.

Now in remission, nine-year-old Anne-Josee Trepanier’s leukemia was first diagnosed in 2004.

“I’ll never forget the date. Nov. 18, 2004. She was at school, and the next day she has cancer,” she said. “It’s very tough for a parent. You’re just not prepared for something like that.”

That’s where Leucan came in. The cancer-support foundation looked after Plourde and Trepanier throughout the treatment and pro-

vided them with counselling and a friendly

shoulder.

“When you get the diagnosis at the hospital, they come with you. They’re part of the process,” she said.

Today, Anne-Josee’s leukemia is a bad memory and Plourde is doing her part by helping to raise money for cancer research by promoting Leucan’s shaved-head challenge, coming to the West Island for the first time June 10.

The event is slated for 10 a.m., and should go until about noon, or as long as Leucan can find heads to shave.

In fact, Plourde was proud to note that her daughter’s best friend, a nine-year-old little boy, will be among the first to have their locks sheared at the West Island segment of the Leucan Shaved Head Challenge.

“He’s been her best friend since kindergarten and he’s doing this in order to give her support. I think it’s wonderful,” Plourde said.

Plourde said she’s only too happy to be able to volunteer time with Leucan, because so many people in similar situations aren’t able to.

“Not all parents are able to volunteer with Leucan, but that’s a situation I’m in and I’m happy to work with them because of everything they did for my family during (Anne-Josee’s treatment).”

Montreal Alouettes president Larry Smith is the honorary campaign chairman. Smith, a Hudson resident, said while he wouldn’t be putting his locks on the line for the campaign, the city’s only professional football team makes it a priority to support charities such as Leucan as often as possible.

“Especially relating to kids and health,” said Smith in a phone interview last week. “Those are issues we support as enthusiastically as we possibly can. We get way more requests than we could ever handle for support, but causes such as Leucan’s, which affect children and their health, are priorities for us.”

Smith, who worked in the newspaper industry from 2002 to 2004 in between stints with the Alouettes and was once the Canadian Football League’s commissioner, said as a high-profile English-speaking Montrealer, he likes to help out in the community where he can.

“It’s like anything else. After all the good that has come my way and to my family, I’d like to keep giving back wherever and whenever I can,” he said.

The Leucan Shaved Head Challenge is set for the Fairview Pointe Claire shopping centre Sunday at 10 a.m.

For information, check www.leucan.qc.ca.