Peter Tennant can talk about his fight against cancer with a matter-of-fact shrug. But when it comes to thinking about how his co-workers have rallied to his side, his eyes fill with tears.
Tennant, 59, who works in the lumber department at Rona in Langford, has battled leukemia for four years, and expected his latest round of chemotherapy to keep the illness at bay for a few years more.
Unfortunately that treatment only lasted a short time B次元官网网址� in April he was four shifts into his new job at Rona when the doctor gave him the bad news. His only hope is a stem cell transplant from his sister who lives in South Africa, an expensive undertaking.
B次元官网网址淚 told Rona this is the situation and no one batted an eyelid. No one asked a question, they were just there to help,B次元官网网址� Tennant said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 very blessed.B次元官网网址�
Rona employee Debra Downton helped organize a fundraising effort involving Rona stores from Victoria to Campbell River. Employees have put their hair and facial hair on the line if fundraising milestones are met.
Scores of employees are willing to have their head shaved at $3,000 and $4,000. One employee is willing to shave off his 1970s-era beard at $5,000. One female is willing to sacrifice her hair at $8,000. The district manager will go bald at $10,000. So far theyB次元官网网址檙e at $2,300.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檒l be the only one around with hair,B次元官网网址� Tennant joked.
B次元官网网址淔or me itB次元官网网址檚 been a humbling experience. The people IB次元官网网址檝e met have been so good to me,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址漈he people at Rona are so open and wonderful.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淲e are a family here,B次元官网网址� Downton added. B次元官网网址淕etting Ronas up-Island raises the bar for the amount of funds. We are trying to do as much as we can. Everybody is trying to get to that goal of shaving heads.B次元官网网址�
The money will help Tennant fly his sister from South Africa to Vancouver and to house her for a month. Tennant said heB次元官网网址檒l need to live in Vancouver for at least a few months and be off work for almost a year.
B次元官网网址淭here are hidden costs to cancer. The medical system is absolutely wonderful, but some things are not covered,B次元官网网址� Tennant said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been in Canada 11 years and IB次元官网网址檓 thankful I didnB次元官网网址檛 get cancer in South Africa.B次元官网网址�
Fundraising by TennantB次元官网网址檚 colleagues eases what is an enormous amount of financial and emotional stress on his life.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 fine, IB次元官网网址檓 the one in the war. ItB次元官网网址檚 very hard on my wife,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淎ll we can say is somehow weB次元官网网址檒l survive, weB次元官网网址檒l make it work somehow.B次元官网网址�
Rona in Langford and other stores on Vancouver Island are collecting donations for Tennant. Pancake breakfasts and other fundraising events are planned for September.
editor@goldstreamgazette.com
