Drive Out Breast Cancer this Saturday

By Greg Coulter

A chain known as “a friend of a friend” or “six degrees of separation” has brought three Wheatley residents and their families together to spearhead breast cancer awareness while raising funds for the Chatham Kent Health Alliance Oncology Unit.

The youngest of the three — Monica Couto — her three sisters and her dad received the devastating news in May of 2020 that her mom Maria was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Despite all the roadblocks that COVID presented, Maria was able to get vital surgery and began treatments on June 29, 2020, in Chatham.

Her treatments went on for exactly one year, ending June 29, 2021.

With the support of a caring family and some critical in-home treatments, Maria currently enjoys a life in remission with only yearly check ups required.

With her husband Paul she was able to travel to the Azores for much of this past summer that included surprise visits from members of her family.

Jennifer Dawson worked with Maria at the Wheatley RBC branch for close to 10 years and they became close friends during that time.

A career change found Jen as manager of Talbot Trail Golf Club during the 2020 golf season. Golf was one of only a few activities that was allowed during COVID, and the course was extremely busy.

Jen knew that Monica would be an excellent clubhouse team member and she quickly reached out to hire her.

As Monica was juggling work and helping her mom deal with her illness, Jen became acutely more aware of the perils of cancer.

At 50 she was eligible for cancer screening but put it off to due to a hectic work schedule. In November 2021, at the urging of a friend, she decided to make an appointment for a screening.

Despite feeling fine, no family history of cancer and showing zero symptoms, she was informed that she had breast cancer. She says she currently feels fine, “I think I’m over the worst of my treatments,” as they continue in Windsor.

Samantha Shanks Williams was president of the board at the golf course in 2020 and serves as manager this season. Actively involved at the club, she was keenly aware of Maria’s illness, all the while dealing with the cancer diagnosis of her own mom, long-time member of the golf club Mavis Shanks. Her mom courageously battled the disease but ultimately passed away in April 2021.

Through their close association at the course and their common cancer stories, Monica, Jen and Sam have taken on the task of hosting the third annual Drive Out Breast Cancer golf tournament on Saturday, October 1.

Titled “Big or small, save them all” by Monica, she brought forth the idea of a cancer fundraiser in the summer of 2020 to the club to honour her mom.

Originally slated to be a walk-a-thon type event at the course, the COVID rules relaxed in the fall and with the assistance of superintendent Derek Brown, the entire clubhouse staff and the Portuguese community at large, a tournament was held.

A resounding success, it is sold out again this year.

This year the honorees are Maria Couto, Jeanne Omstead-Mullins, Jen Dawson, Christina Richardson and in memory of Mavis Shanks.

The ladies are grateful to key sponsor Lally Ford for welcome gifts and John Hyatt of Taylor Fish and Chips for providing a dinner ticket for all participants, as well as many local businesses.

Homemade Portuguese sandwiches and donuts will also be available for purchase. Donations can be made at the course on Saturday.

The hope is to surpass last year’s total of $6,300 to a total of $8,000.

From left, Monica Couto, Samantha Williams and Jen Dawson stand on the symbolic pink bridge at Talbot Trail Golf Club. Several years ago the bridge was painted pink to raise awareness of breast cancer. SUN photo by Greg Coulter