HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2016-10-19, Page 7k•
4EyJI Eral.a.0
LYri1PHL'MI, LIGHT THE
F)OCETY NIGHT WALK
CIF CAN1 Lln
Scotty's
on Fire
Shaun Gregory
Lisa Campbell from Seaforth holds her son's team sign and the lanterns that were available for the participants of the Light the Night
Walk in London last Saturday.
Seaforth family headed to London for Light the Night Walk
Seaforth mother
looking to
attract more
media coverage
for fundraising
events for
cancer
Shaun Gregory
Huron Expositor
Red represents those
walkers who are supporters,
white relates to the blood
cancer survivors/patients
and gold symbolizes indi-
viduals who have lost the
fight.
All three colours embody
the lanterns that will shine
brightly during each Light
the Night Walk event and the
Campbells from Seaforth
participated for the fourth
time since the fundraiser
began in London Ont. five
years ago.
Following this trend were
200 other communities
across North America with
all expectations of shedding
some light on the dark world
of cancer; what better way to
display this than with thou-
sands of illuminated
lanterns.
Lisa Campbell's son Scott
unfortunately has had more
than his fair share of cancers
and that's why she proudly
held a lit lamp in the hue of
Li
As I said before, it's the fifth annual
walk in London and my son had been
long diagnosed, prior to that first walk,
we didn't hear anything about it and we
were in the system," Lisa Campbell
from Seaforth said October 14 while
clinching several lanterns. "So without
any coverage we are not able to reach
people with a diagnoses or have lost a
loved one or just want to support the
cause itself.
white.
Scott was diagnosed in
2007 with a rare T -Cell lym-
phoma, in 2008 doctors told
him he had Hodgkin's lym-
phoma and then in 2011 he
was identified with
non- Hodgkin's.
Two years later, the local
underwent a clinical trial
that had never been used in
London hospitals before.
This allowed the process of
an Allogeneic bone marrow
transplant to be performed.
"He is currently stable and
doing well," said Campbell at
her house in Seaforth. "It's
our hope that it's a lasting
diagnosis, but his doctors do
not feel it will be and that he
will probably relapse again."
To stand behind her son
and his almost decade of
fighting numerous cancers
and relapses, "as a family,"
she said they partake in the
Light the Night Walk every
year.
Connecting with televi-
sion stations, local newspa-
pers and as many media out-
lets as possible, Campbell is
spreading the word.
"As I said before, it's the
fifth annual walk in London
and my son had been long
diagnosed, prior to that first
walk, we didn't hear any-
thing about it and we were in
the system," she said Octo-
ber 14 while clinching sev-
eral lanterns. "So without
any coverage we are not able
to reach people with a diag-
noses or have lost a loved
one or just want to support
the cause itself."
On October 15 the Camp-
bells marched on behalf of
the team entitled Scotty's on
Fire with lit crowds the size
of an army in the night start-
ing at Victoria Park in Lon-
don. These specific teams
contribute their time in the
five -kilometre hike through
the city's core with an easy
path to follow as the streets
were closed off for the dura-
tion of the event. The named
squads can be found on
lightthenight.ca, last year
Campbell said they raised
more than $6,000 and from
all the feedback she's heard,
they expect to exceed that
figure.
If anybody else is looking
to donate they are taking
donations to the end of the
year. Each thousand metres
of the walk had a special
theme, including a part
where everyone shows a
moment of silence.
"The impact of seeing
thousands of lanterns as
they go through Harris Park
(was) something (people)
(will) never forget," said
Campbell.
The funds will also be con-
nected to the annual Juve-
nile All-Star Game, which
Campbell revealed is set to
take place in Seaforth for the
second year in December.
Wednesday, October 19, 2016 • Huron Expositor 7
Women in Business of Huron East
Patti Hendriks was trained as a graphic artist and worked for a while for the
Signal Star newspaper, designing their Travel Magazine. Married, with three
kids, Path wanted a way to make some extra money, so she used her talents
to create handmade Mohair Collectible Teddy Bears. You can see examples of
these quirky and whimsical bears on Patti's website, www.primitivecreek.net,
by clicking on the pmbears tab.
She traveled to shows in the United States and made a name for herself.
Teddy Bear lovers are a community, and Patti's quality handmade bears are
treasured by people all over North America. Some have even been given new
homes in England!
Patti worked for a while in a gift shop in Bayfield, where her boss Diane asked
her "How many bears can I buy from you to keep you working only for me?"
That was not going to happen! Patti valued the Teddy Bear community and
looked forward to traveling and connecting with other bear folks. When her
boss retired, Patti wasn't ready to own her own store, so she went to work for
Anna's Dress Shop, where she stayed for 7 years, working part time so she
could continue creating her Teddy Bears.
Patti kept traveling to shows where she would purchase fantastic folk art to
use to highlight her bears. At her open house, held at Hip Creek Farm, Patti
and Henry Hendriks' farm on Mill Road , people not only wanted to buy her
Teddy Bears, but wanted the props, the antiques, and the unique treasures
Path used as displays.
Because the demand was there, Patti went to shows in the States and
brought back all sorts of giftware, intending to sell it on her website, along
with the Teddies. Shortly after that, the company "Primitive Creek" was born.
The name was an amalgamation of her farm name and her style, Primitive,
which includes Colonial and Upper Canada items.
Originally, the intent was to have an open house once a year, in September, but
at the first one, nearly everything sold out. Along with the fall and Hallowe'en
items, there were a few Christmas decorations, and everyone wanted more!
So, Patti and her helpers put together a Christmas show, and it was twice as
busy as the fall show. The customers were asking for one in the spring, so
they scheduled one right before Mother's Day. On the last weekend of June,
Primitive Creek held a tent sale, with everything marked down by 25 — 75%
in order to clear out old stock and make room for new.
Meanwhile, Patti placed her wares in different shops on consignment. She
was happy with that arrangement, and didn't intend to open a shop of her
own, until the day Pete Klaver came to her and asked her if she'd be interested
in taking over the store. Patti had lots of encouragement from friends who just
knew she could do it, so after her regular open house on May 3 — 6, 2011,
the doors to Primitive Creek , 65 Main St. South, in Seaforth, were opened.
Patti employs four women — Anja McGowan, Debra Falconer, Sandy Moray
and Katie O'Leary. Some of them work more days in the store than others,
and one is her buying partner who travels with her on all of her shopping trips
across the border.
Being an entrepreneur takes energy, enthusiasm, and a "never quit" attitude.
Patti said she wouldn't be doing it if she didn't love it! She's always excited
to close the doors and set up for her open houses. The next open house is
November 3 — 6, so she'll close the door from Saturday to Wednesday to set
up all of the Christmas stock. When she comes into the store in the mornings
during her closings, she can see face prints from people pressing up against
the glass to see what's new.
Patti is happy to give advice about decorating and design, so if a customer
has a piece of furniture or an area in the home that doesn't quite look right
and needs a little something, Patti encourages them to bring in a picture of
the piece. She'll then help them decide what to purchase and how to set it
up to look just right.
I always ask about drawbacks. Being an entrepreneur and store owner is hard
work! Patti said there are no drawbacks, but there are sometimes difficulties.
She said that on her buying trips, everything that could go wrong with a
vehicle, a trailer, and even the weather has gone wrong for her! She wishes
she'd kept track of all of the fiascos she's experienced, because by now she'd
have a book! Troubles on trips will never deter her, though. She will be there
to welcome new friends and old to Primitive Creek!
Primitive Creek 65 Main St.S, Seaforth
519-600-1020 • patti@primitivecreek.net
What does it take to be an entrepreneur? Are there obstacles to
overcome, especially if you're a woman going into business for yourself?
Janet Billson is writing a series of articles about business women of
Huron East, focusing on sole proprietors and entrepreneurs. Janet is
the owner of a small business, Add Some Flair, and is passionate about
using non-toxic, Canadian -made paint to transform ordinary objects in
the home into extraordinary treasures that you love. She has refinished
furniture for sale in her store, and offers workshops that are fun
and informative!
www.addsomeflair.ca • 519-527-2682 • 43057 Winthrop Rd, Seaforth
• info@addsomeflair.ca