Publican

BC Hospitality
Foundation Update
by Renee Blackstone
The BC Hospitality is pleased to announce that
we have reached a significant milestone. This
November, the BC Hospitality Foundation helped
its 100th beneficiary.
As we recognize the inspiring story of our 100th
beneficiary, Susan Selles, we encourage you to
share her story of hope and determination to
inspire others. In Susan’s honour, you can also
make a donation directly to the Foundation at
www.bchospitalityfoundation.com. (We suggest
$100 in celebration of our 100th beneficiary,
but any amount goes to help individuals in the
hospitality community across BC coping with a
financial crisis due to a health condition.)
Susan, an upbeat single mother of two busy
children, has been working for nearly 20 years
at the Penticton Lakeside Resort, rising through
various departments, and is currently their sales
manager. Last year, she developed pancreatitis,
which led to a portal vein thrombosis and a
partial shutdown of her liver. Numerous doctor
and hospital visits completely exhausted her bank
of vacation days as well as her savings account,
putting enormous stress on her family. While still
recovering from that illness, she received even
more devastating news. In August 2015, she was
diagnosed with an aggressive triple-negative
breast cancer. In September she had the tumour
removed and underwent a partial mastectomy.
Chemotherapy treatment began in November.
Despite her ongoing treatments, Susan found it
hard to completely stop working, saying “work
keeps me sane and helps me stay occupied and
positive.” Nevertheless, she continued to move
further into financial deficit.
Then, a colleague who attended a recent
Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association
conference reminded her about the BCHF. She
made an application right away and within less
than a month received approval for desperatelyneeded
financial support that will make up
her income shortfall, helping her to pay for
prescriptions not covered by her MSP and for
necessary time off work for treatments and
therapy.
“You have to take these things one day at a time,”
Susan told the Foundation. “Negative thoughts are
not good for any disease, and I prayed nightly for
any kind of help. The support of the BCHF is truly
amazing. It feels like a great weight has been lifted
off my shoulders.”
She shares that each successive chemotherapy
treatment makes her increasingly tired, as the
medication builds in her system, but for the sake
of herself and her two children, she refuses to
give up.
“I’m appreciating living more now that I have
cancer. You quickly realize that the only thing that
matters in life is your family, and my children have
been so supportive and understanding. With all
the time off work and the cost of medication, what
are you supposed to do? Cut back on food? Not
pay your rent? The support of the Foundation is
literally the answer to my prayers. When I received
the cheque, I was crying. So very thankful.”
The BCHF hopes to help more people this year
than ever before. Spread the word. Who do you
know that we can help?
36 The Publican