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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1984-05-30, Page 1• 10 .t; Serving the communities and areas of Brussels, Dublin, Hensall and Walton I LI osito 50c a copy SEAFORTH, ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, MAY 30, 1984 0 20 PAGES Parents need a place to stay When they visit with their grandson who is receiving treatment for leukemia in a London Hospital, Lois and Bill Hodgert see the out-of-town parents who spend days by their children's bedsides and nights in hospital lounges or hotels: They see the need for a more comfortable and -economical place for these parents to stay, so the Hodgerts are asking the people of Seaforth to help raise money which will go towards the Ronald McDonald House being built in London. "We've sat in Loncign many hours and we've seen a need for parents to have a place to lay down their heads and keep mind, body and soul together when their child is very sick" says Mrs. Hodgert. Representatives from approximately 20 Seaforth groups attended an information meeting at the Hodgert's home last week to hear about the 12 bedroom house which should be ready for occupancy in 1985, The house will cost $900,000 and is expensive because it is being built especially to accommodate parents of children receiv- ing treatment, volunteer Gerry Treble told the groups. It will include a double kitchen, a laundry room, a family room, play areas and a specially -designed drainage system with large piping since the children often lose their hair during treatment. "It's going to be a very warm place. It's meant to be that in-between house, a happy place where parents can be with their children," he says. The name Ronald McDonald House was chosen because McDonald's Restaurants are making a contribution of $250,000 and the clown character, Ronald McDonald is one that children respond to with hope and happiness, says Mr. Treble. The house will be run by a Board of Directors made up of members of the community in London. It will be one of 10 Ronald McDonald Houses operating across Canada. The house will be located on the Westminster Campus of Victoria Hospital and will be available to any parents whose children are receiving treatment at any of the four London hospitals. Most of the users will be from anywhere from Windsor to Owen Sound to Kitchener. "You hopefully won't have friends and relatives who have need of it or have to use it yourself but it's important you know of it in case you need it. People in a community like this one may need it; if your child was in the hospital, I'm sure you'd want to stay close," says Mrs. Hodgert. At the house, parents will participate in the housekeeping, pay $7 to $10 a night and find emotional support from other parents who are in the same situation. Rather than using a hard sell, fund raising is following the theme, "The house that love built," says Mrs. Hodgert. "I don't want to see any pressure to fund raise but I'd like to see people give because they feel there's a need for the house. It's a matter of choosing to be involved." Over 5400,000 has been raised so far in London. Any groups or citizens who wish to help with fund raising can contact the Hodgerts who can provide products to sell with Ronald McDonald House logos on them or a speaker to spread the information at group meetings. A few volunteers are also needed to approach area businesses and companies for donations. Need McDonald House i:. When 14•year•old Suzanne Dinsmore looks hack on the month she spent•in War Memorial Children's Hospital in London five years ago. she says it seems more like a year. When she was nine.„.lf uacras discovered she was suffering from a rare life-threatening blood disease called "aplastic anemia". Treatments meant she had to stay in hospital while her family travelled back and forth everyday for a month. "She didn't mind staving the first few days hut after that was when things really turned had; that's when the treatment started with blood transfusions and painful hone marrow tests," says her mother, Shirley With three children at home in Seaforth and no friends or relatives living in London to stav with, Bob and Shirley had little choice but to travel to and from the hospital After 10 days of making the 11/2 hour daily drive. they decided they'd alternate "I went the first night with a friend and Boh was supposed to go the next night but of course I couldn't stay home when the time came." sans Shirley "It was really trying " After a month in the hospital. Suzanne was allowed to come home first on weekends and then gradually more and more until she was allowed to stay home a year later But, during that time, Shirley says both Suzanne and the family suffered from the separation. "The doctor said he prefers to have the family unit together so he can watch how thes're doing Because they were in MAYO11. ALF ROSS took a ride on the the Optimist Mardi Gras parade on ending at the arena, the parade was almost I , Carla hl eight horse hitch wagon during Saturday. Starting at the Optimist Park and an hour long. (Hundertmark photo) school, two of our daughters rarely saw Suzanne and one of them developed an emotional problem. She bad nightmares and really red hands. It turned out she �? was afraid she'd get the disease so she 4 > kept washing her hands all the time. If she'd been closer, she could have gone and seen that Suzanne was okay when she got scared," says Shirley. Staying in hospital was also pretty scary for nine-year-old Suzanne who had never been in a hospital before. She and her roommate became good friends and Suzanne had a favorite nurse who would hold her hand during the bone marrow tests. but she still missed her family. "The worst part was being there with strange people. If anything bad happened, it would take so long for my parents to get to London from Seaforth,' says Suzanne: Since she's found out about the Ronald McDonald House to be built in London for parents of children who are receiving treatment there, Shirley says her family could have greatly benefitted by it. "We didn't have access to the moral support you'd get at the Ronald McDonald House. There was a parent support group in London but we couldn't participate because we weren't in the community. If we'd been in London, we would have met parents whose children were In the same situation," she says. The 12 bedroom house is designed so that parents can share a kitchen, laundry room and family room. Parents can also share their worries, thoughts and feelings HOUSE/ ON PAGE THREE mpbeiI is sailing the Atlantic again Sailing the high seas is the dream of many in search of fame, fortune and the good life, Fetch have sailed the Atlantic Ocean in a 36 foot sail boat. But Ken Campbell of McKillop Township did, in 1973. And this week, he's doing it again, in a 40 foot sloop. The difference between his first crossing and the second is this time it isn't costing Mr. Campbell or his sailing partner Harry Whale of Hanover a cent except for the flight home. The veteran trans-Atlantic sailors, who have sailed together since 1965, are delivering a boat for Jack Alderslie, an accountant in Hanover. The latter is accompanying the pair in the three week crossing. Another difference is the first boat "Mary Poppins" cost the sailing partners 518,000. "Jack's got radios and sails that are worth more than our first boat. But the Mary Poppins was a good boat at the time. We did what we planned to do with it. It was a good br ocean sailing, moreso than this time 1th "September Song" is more for cruisi ," said Mr. Campbell. That s just what the owners of the host have planned. Once the September Song is docked in Gibraltar, about 2,500 miles east of Halifax, Mr. and Mrs. Alderslie plan to sail the Mediterranian from May to Se Dtember for the next three years. • 'Ir. Campbell estimates it will take two weeks to sail 1,500 miles to the Azors and another week to sail to Gibraltar. In his first trans-Atlantic crossing, 1 have no idea what it cost us," he said. "We're not getting paid for this delivery but it's not costing us anything either. We're treating this crossing differently than in 1973. We're treating it as a delivery job." Even if he had his own boat, Mr, Campbell would cross the Atlantic without a thought Though his second Grossing won't he as exciting as the first time, "because we know what to expect, it's an experience you can't get anywhere else." RISKS MINIMAL Risks of sailing the Atlantic are minimal because the trio are sailing at a favorable time of year. "It's after the tornado season and before the hurricane season. It's the hest time of year to go." KOREAN WAR veterans were honored by plaque was unveiled at the cenotaph in from Seaforth, Don Muir was the only one to the Seaforth Legion on Sunday when a Victoria Park. Of the 10 Korean veterans participate In the ceremony. INSIDE 0 And all that water doesn't fizz on Ken Campbell. He's not a Sunday afternoon sailor, but a sailor who has a destination in mind. Comparing Lake Huron to the Atlantic Ocean, he said a boat is sailed the same "A 10 foot wave on Lake Huron is like a 30 foot wave on the Atlantic, but the waves handle the same. I've sailed on just as heavy a stuff on the lakes, but it's different on the Atlantic because the stuff is bigger. "On the Atlantic, there are waves on top of the swells. But this doesn't make sailing tougher. It's a bit of a challenge. If there's a storm, the thing is to sail through it. We had three storms the last time and it can be heavy going. But dirty weather doesn't stop u s. "From Halifax to Newfoundland is like sailing on the lake. In 1973, it wasn't until afterwards that we got into the good stuff " On their voyage, the three sailors will eat the very best of meals. As in his 197.1 crossing, Mr. Campbell plans to cook bacon and eggs and porridge for breakfast cat SAILING/ ON PAGE THREE Weather was cold SDHS soccer team wins silver/ A6 1 Legion elects new officers/ A3, 12 cold in '73 crossing In 1973, Ken Campbell of McKillop Township and Harry Whale of Hanover, sailed the Atlantic Ocean. At the time, they were one of a few to attempt such a crossing. The following are some excerpts from "The Log of The Mary Poppins" as compiled by Mr. Whale. The Mary Poppins was the 36 foot sloop the pair. sailed to England. eeaeease MAY 30. 1973 -- "Slopping around in thick fog and leftover seas most of the day. Steering during the .night was so erratic that it is difficult to know our position. In the evening, Ken steering, suddenly announced he had seen a whale. There turned out to be abput three or four of them --bigl My God, it was awesome to watch as they blew and dived very close to the boat. Ken had heard them blowing in the fog somewhere before we got a look at them. MAY 31 .. "Everything in the boat is cold, cold and wet, wet. Mist dripping on everything outside and condensation on everything inside. Long swells from a general southerly direction -- much longer than I've seen on the lakes." JUNE 2 -- "RDF on Cape Race finally, 090 degrees -- sounds right anyway, only time will tell. Tried bubble sextant again without much luck. Bubble leaps around like a mad dog. Hope it warms up soon. We are all wearing two or three suits of underwear, jeans, three sweaters, ski parka, two piece wet suit, topped by heavy slicker and s'wester or toque, and of course rubber boots. None of us has changed in four days. When it does warm up, we'll look like a laundry ship." JUNE 4 -- "Turns into a very cold wet miserable night and making seven knots under big gennie and full main until ,t dies. thank heaven. Absolutely nerve racking ploughing through the night staring ahead mto utter darkness wondering if there is a berg or growler waiting, "Ken is turning out to be an absolute gem. Taken over cooking and all kinds of chores as if born to it •- terrific He'll soon be the only farmer 1 know with 1600 acres and dishpan hands." JUNE 6 -• "Another large chunk of pack ice just off to starboard. this morning about 0400 and a very large iceberg about 0700 real whopper. Beginning to feel like Scott of the Antarctic. During the night while hove -to, we had a cup of oxo •• good ton. "Sunshine this morning!!! At least there is a bright light in the sky that seems familiar. Everything is soaking wet -- the Belly Bags are really getting a workout." JUNE 7 -- "Another beautiful. sunny day but the wind still in the north. Making good time but it's coil and we are close hauled on the port tack. Everything in the boat is pretty well sodden." JUNE 10 -- "Can hardly describe the feeling at night surfing down one hig wave whilst you can hear the next one hissing over your shoulder. We both got very fatigued -- tried to spell each other off every hour or two •• got more frequent as time went on. God help that poor girl corning the other way alone." JUNE 10 -- Saw a dead whale on the surface about 1700 •- guess he'd be about 12 feet long. Took a picture, but 1 really don't know why. Wear and tear on sails is beginning to show. Must do some sewing soon -- they take an awful beating. "Hope'people aren't worrying about us WEATHER/ ON PAGE THREE King and Queen chosen at prom/ A17 Hi-Lites get charter/ 410 Births /A 11 Brussels 1,4 14 Classified /A18. 19 Community Calendar /A3 Dublin /A4, 5 Entertainment /Al2 Family /A10, 11 Farm /A 16 Hensall /A20 Kids /417 Legion /Al2 Obituaries /A11 People /A10 Sports /A6, 7 Walton /A15 1 4