Cancer survivor gifts bench of hope to Coniston healing garden

On April 1, 2013, Kimberley Wahamaa-Deschenes was showering and found a lump in her breast. Just for a moment, she thought it was an April Fools joke

Ten years ago, Kimberley Wahamaa-Deschenes trusted her intuition. Today, she is alive to share her story.

On April 1, 2013, Wahamaa-Deschenes was showering and found a lump in her breast. Just for a moment, she thought it was an April Fools joke.

On June 6, 2013, at just 47 years of age and with no other symptoms, she learned she had stage 2 breast cancer.

Despite her own diagnosis, Wahamaa-Deschenes has spent the last decade fundraising for local charities and in support of women fighting their own war against cancer.

On Tuesday, she hung up her bra for the final time with the gift of a granite bench at the Coniston healing garden, located at Coniston Centennial Park. A space to reflect, pray and ponder, the bench was her way of saying thank you.

"I’m giving back to the community of Coniston, where I lived for many years," she said. "They had dedicated a healing garden to me when I was going through my treatments, so I’m now donating back a bench of hope, in partnership with the Northern Cancer Foundation and Centis Tile. I’m kind of hanging up my bra after 10 years. I’m done fundraising. I just want to move on."

A bench seemed fitting.

"My tagline has always been courage, strength and hope, so I thought a bench of hope would be appropriate," Wahamaa-Deschenes said.

She is a devoted gardener and a former member of the Coniston community garden. While undergoing four rounds of chemotherapy and 30 cycles of radiation, she prayed often. Her father recently went through treatment for cancer, "so this bench is even closer to her heart."

The healing garden is a kaleidoscope of colour and texture. Wahamaa-Deschenes said "the flowers represent all colours, and all cancers and illnesses. It's surrounded by the Coniston community gardens, where youth and seniors get together. It's a real community spot."

Wahamaa-Deschenes said she finds strength in giving back to the community and in helping others.

"There's a sense of survivorship; there's a sense of helping others, because we’re all affected by cancer and by illness, so it's a calming place to go and sit," she said. "It's a little legacy. My parents both still live in Coniston."

Wahamaa-Deschenes founded the Trust Your Bust Fund, through the Northern Cancer Foundation, shortly after her diagnosis. For 10 years she organized fundraising events, such as high tea at Verdicchio's and Finlandia Village; a Halloween party at the United Steelworkers Hall; and a Sudbury Wolves Trust Your Bust night. In total, she raised $18,000 for "breast cancer research, and I’ve also helped survivors and care-givers with financial assistance during their treatments."

Wahamaa-Deschenes was just 47 when she was diagnosed, so mammograms were not even "on the radar." So when she learned of another local woman in her 30s who required a double mastectomy, she felt compelled to help.

"I was a single mom at the time, too, and I just can't imagine going through that, and her son was much younger than mine," she shared.

An avid hockey fan, Wahamaa-Deschenes was excited to work with Dario Zulich, the Wolves’ owner, on the fundraising initiative.

"I have a Trust Your Bust jersey, actually, so at intermission I was able to skate with my pink wig," she said. "We raised almost $1,000 that day."

Wahamaa-Deschenes has been an inspiration to others enduring the challenges and fear of a cancer diagnosis.

"The Northern Cancer Foundation deeply honours Kimberley's tenacious dedication over the past decade, selflessly dedicating time, energy and resources in support of individuals and families living with and beyond cancer," said Kristofer Cacciotti, community engagement and events specialist at the foundation. "Her fundraising journey — ignited by her own experience with cancer — has brought hope and support to many people in Sudbury and beyond. The installation of this bench symbolizes her enduring commitment, a beacon of hope to all. Kimberley, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for your remarkable contribution, your resilience is truly inspirational."

Wahamaa-Deschenes said the statistics are startling. One in 34 people will die from breast cancer and one in eight will be diagnosed at some point in their lifetime.

"It doesn't matter about your age, you know your body," she said. "Stand up for your body and your rights. Had I not, I might not be here today."

[email protected]: @marykkeownFacebook: @mkkeown

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