Great SDHS Cast stages West of the St. Lawrence

A private campaign to raise funds for a St. Lawrence Secondary School teacher suffering from a rare form of cancer has secured more than $106,000 in less than two months, reaching its first benchmark goal of $100,000 dollars.

The We’re NUT Givin’ Up Campaign has caught fire, generating media interest from CTV and CBC, and garnering support through literally dozens of fundraising events planned to benefit Stephanie Grady, a teacher suffering from NUT midline carcinoma, an aggressive cancer that has spread to her hips, pelvis, and spine. 

In order to provide the opportunity for Grady to participate in a clinical drug trial at a cancer institute in Boston, supporters have organized events ranging from online and silent auctions to athletic events and tournaments, as well as breakfasts, brunches and dinners.

“It’s incredibly overwhelming,” said campaign spokesperson Heather Lisney, of the success so far. “It’s inspiring and very humbling.”

“Stephanie and her family are so thankful for all of the kindness and generosity shown by friends, family, colleagues and students; and also complete strangers who have been “diggin’ deep” to help her. It’s a significant relief for the family knowing they can now access these funds to help with the cost of care in Boston. It’s also giving hope and providing emotional support.”

Fundraising successes so far have included: Moose Creek 4-on-4 Hockey Tournament, $28,000; We’re NUT Givin’ Up Online Donation Campaign, $37,000; Rothwell-Osnabruck School Online Auction, $8,900; church and community donations $15,000; and roast beef/spaghetti dinners, $7,500. 

In addition, many more school and student initiatives are taking place, and individuals are also fundraising through small business ventures.

“There are still many future events planned all in support of the Grady family,” said Lisney. “Due to the nature of clinical trials, and the rarity of this cancer, exact costs are impossible to determine. Medical expenses can vary significantly depending on length of stay in hospital and the subsequent number of treatments, scans and tests required to treat this disease.”

“In addition, the Grady family will also be required to travel to Boston once a week to receive treatment for six months, possibly longer. As such, we don’t want to stop. We want to ensure the expenses are fully covered and that the Grady family is supported and secure during this fight.” 

“In addition, we want to continue to raise awareness. One of Stephanie’s biggest challenges is the lack of answers due to the limited knowledge resulting from the rare nature of this disease.”

Following countless treatments and surgeries after an initial diagnosis of lung cancer, doctors in Ottawa offered palliative radiation for Grady to help ease her pain, declaring her condition incurable. Grady and her friends were not ready to give up. 

Friends, family, teachers and other volunteers have united as “Team Grady” to create the fundraising campaign to help the 32-year-old teacher. 

The goal is to continue to raise funds to send the Long Sault resident for experimental treatments at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.

Harvard researchers at the International NUT Midline Carcinoma Registry are using a new drug called BET Inhibitor that has been shown to shrink, and even stop, NUT midline tumour growth in human tissue. The first clinical trial began last month in various centres in the United States. 

Grady is now eligible to receive a series of drug trial treatments at Dana-Farber for six months starting in May. Preliminary testing is scheduled for the end of April.

Upcoming fundraising events designed to help her family cover the treatments include:

• Major raffle featuring an NHL escape package (Tickets available from Rothwell-Osnabruck School, the Upper Canada District School Board, and Brockville Collegiate Institute)

• Benefit Volleyball Tournament at Brockville Collegiate Institute and Thousand Islands Secondary School on March 29 (8-5)

• Kelsey’s (Cornwall) Kickback Night: March 31

• Finch Hockey Tournament: April 11-13

• East-Side Mario’s (Cornwall) Silent Auction and Kickback: April 25

• Keystorm (Brockville) Benefit Pub-Night Social: April 26

• A five-kilometre staff/student and community race in Cornwall: May 4

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A few showers over the weekend has not helped the drought farmers in South Dundas are dealing with this year. “No one can remember this, where it starts dry and stays dry like this,” said […]

Although their main intent is the collection of information, mostly in the digital format, the Historical Society of South Dundas recently received its first donations of artifacts. 

Three school photos, from two different sources, have brought three locally-relevant 19th century photos, from sequential years to the society. 

Weeks ago, the Historical Society was put in contact with Norm Shepherd of Sackville, New Brunswick who was looking for a home two mounted class photos from the Morrisburg Model School, one from 1896 and one from 1897. 

Through a chain of transport, the photos arrived in the HSSD’s possession a couple of weeks ago. 

Around about the same time that these photos were making their way to South Dundas, the HSSD received another photo donation from Shirley Pettinger, offering up a class photo,  also from the Morrisburg Model School, this one from 1898. 

“The fact that these two similar donations were being made about the same time, and that they ended up being sequential years is completely coincidental,” said Sue Peters, president of the Historical Society of South Dundas. 

While the Historical Society mainly wants to collect and share local historical information, the group knew it was important to accept these donations. 

“I know there is nothing like this in the municipal archive,” said Peters. 

The Historical Society of South Dundas met last week, at the Iroquois Civic Centre, and in addition to viewing these photos, each participant brought artifacts of their own for a ‘show and tell’.

The Historical Society of South Dundas wants to use the donation as an opportunity to invite those who may have information or old stories from the Morrisburg Model School to share to contact them. 

Peters can be reached by email (teahistorian@hotmail.ca) or the Historical Society can be contacted by mail (Historical Society of South Dundas c/o Box 282 Morrisburg, ON, K0C 1X0) or email (info@southdundas.net).

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