Surrey's Deb Imada, a colorectal cancer survivor, has launched an event called Bumspiel: Curling for Colon Cancer. The 2012 event is Saturday, March 31.
Photograph by: submitted , for Surrey NOW
NEW WESTMINSTER - A curling fundraiser is taking on an international flair.
Surrey resident Deb Imada teamed up with the Royal City Curling Club last year to launch the Bumspiel - Curling for Colon Cancer.
Imada, a colorectal cancer survivor, launched the event in 2011 during Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, which is celebrated in Canada in March.
This year's bonspiel happens on March 31 from noon to 9 p.m. at the Royal City Curling Club in New Westminster.
"This year's bonspiel has a lot of medical people attending," Imada said. "I have four teams of nurses. I have a pharmacist who teaches pharmacy at UBC."
The bonspiel will also be attended by some doctors from the Netherlands, who are interested in collaborating with Canadian organizations on the issue of screening for colorectal cancer.
"Their mandate is to push screening," Imada explained. "They have 10 screening clinics in the Netherlands. They are interested in the event because of the fact it is sports enhancement and awareness about colorectal cancer."
Imada was diagnosed with Stage 3 colorectal cancer in 2008 when she was 43. In the following two years she underwent two surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation and dealt with side effects of chemotherapy that left her hands numb.
Imada thought the hemorrhoids she had after had a child had returned but discovered she had a tumour. She encourages people to talk to their doctor if they have any concerns, and not be shy about their derrieres.
According to the Canadian Cancer Society, approximately 22,200 Canadians (12,500 men and 9,700 women) were diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2011 and 8,900 (5,000 men and 3,900 women) will die from it. Colorectal cancer is the third most common type of cancer in Canada.
Bumspiel 2012 will raise funds for the Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada. The event includes curling, a buffet dinner, raffles, 50/50 draws and door prizes.
The event is open to people aged 10 and up. All levels of curlers are welcome to attend - even those who have never curled before.
The registration deadline is today (March 26). For more details, visit curling4coloncancer.weebly.com.
