Dreams Do Come True...

In my mind, my sister Laura is a legend. I want the world to know her story. Laura battled Cancer for 10 years. She was first diagnosed when she was eight and struggled through all of her treatments because she had to be away from home at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto as they were not available in Sudbury. Throughout the hardest times in her life, when trying to heal from her illness, my sister and my mom were in a big city all alone. Laura did not want others to have to go through the pain and suffering that she went through while dealing with her illness. She saw a gap in the system and wanted it to change.

The obstacles she went through inspired her and my mom to create a fund with the intentions of improving pediatric access for other families in similar situations.Her dream was ultimately to start a pediatric cancer care clinic in Sudbury. She wanted to ensure that parents and children who were dealing with cancer had the resources they needed to learn more about this disease and tackle it with confidence and positivity.

When she started the Cancer Drive, Laura was only 16 years old. Still running 20 years later with increased momentum, the Kids Caring for Kids Cancer Drive, in memory of Laura Cotesta, is stronger than ever. The Cancer Drive is a one-night blitz, where the students of Lockerby Composite high school go door-to-door to raise money for the Pediatric Cancer Centre. Over $60 000 is made in one single night and Lockerby Composite School has donated more than $700 000 to the Cancer Centre. This incredible donation not only started the Paedatric Cancer Centre in Sudbury but has been fundamental in ensuring that children feel comfortable and at ease when they come go in for treatment. They no longer need to go through treatment with adults or elderly. There are currently five treatment rooms with child-size equipment, a private waiting room with toys and brighter colours, a library with resources, a tele-conference room for doctors to communicate with other specialists, and a team of dedicated individuals (nurses, social workers, teachers) who focus solely on the Pediatric area. This is an astonishing accomplishment.

Year after year, more and more students come out to participate in this one-night event. Year after year, more money is raised. And year after year, more children and their families dealing with cancer get one step closer to having everything they need here in Sudbury.

It is without a doubt that this campaign is so successful because of the hard work and dedication of our mom, who keeps it going every year. She pours her heart and soul into every aspect of it and ensures that Laura’s story and the history of how it all started is not missed. The staff and administration at Lockerby and the organizing committees devote countless hours to ensure that this event is successful. The team at the Cancer Centre ensure that the community knows where the money is going and that they follow through on their promises. Finally, the endless support of our community who open their hearts and wallets every year because they see the impact this campaign actually has.

I don’t think Laura could have imagined the Cancer Drive being so successful and affecting so many people. She is the inspiration and backbone of the Cancer Drive. It was her vision, positive attitude and strength that started it all.

She always said, “If you keep hoping and praying for sunshine, the sunshine is sure to come.”