Cindy Turner-Gulycz carefully holds a photography book showcasing children who survived cancer. As she steadies it, Cheryl Gordon flips through the pages.
Here's Bryan, Gordon says, stopping at the page with a picture of her son cuddling a well-loved teddy bear. He took that [bear] to all his chemo treatments.
After a brief moment, Gordon turns the page. She continues on until reaching a photograph of a smiling boy resting his head against his arm.
That's Nicholas, Turner-Gulycz says, pointing to her son.
Both Turner-Gulycz and Gordon were friends before their toddlers ended up battling cancer. In 1996, then-four-year-old Bryan was rushed to B.C. Children's Hospital when his organs started shutting down. Diagnosed with Burkitt's lymphoma, he spent eight months undergoing intensive treatment.
His skin would burn off from the chemo, Gordon recalls.
A year later, then-five-year-old Nicholas suddenly began exhibiting flu-like symptoms. After the illness persisted, blood work uncovered devastating news Nicholas had acute lymphoblastic leukemia. His treatment lasted three and a half years.
Today, they're both happy and health, living life up in their early 20s. But the experience altered their character, both mothers agree. They are tough and their fear threshold is high.
For their parents the ordeal sparked an urge to give back to the community. Turner-Gulycz and Gordon have organized Squamish's Balding for Dollars fundraiser for the past 10 years. With the help of former Squamish councillor Dave Young, Turner-Gulycz also set up a trust fund to help other families with children fighting the disease.
On Saturday, May 11, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Squamish Station Mall, Turner-Gulycz and Gordon will raise money for cancer research. This year, the event is backed by the Squamish Dragon Boat Association.
The fundraiser draws out the regular participants every year including a lot of Bryan's and Nicholas's friends. But Turner-Gulycz and Gordon are hoping to sign more people up for the event. To sign up for the big shave visit www.baldingfordollars.com or call (604) 892-3142.
Pledge forms are available at Nesters Market and both Starbucks in Squamish. You can also make a pledge online.
Squamish is an amazing town in terms of people stepping up to the plate for fellow residents, Gordon says. Having experience locals' support when she needed it the most, Gordon says she's formed a life-long bond with Squamish.
The community I would never leave here.
