They call their team the whale whisperers and are setting out to raise funds for Inspire Health, an organization that is dedicated to enhancing the life of people living with cancer. Lisa Marie Bhattacharya and Ed Kane are two Bowen Islanders who will be part of the Kayak for a Cure event on August 26. They are reaching out to the community to ask for support in the form of donations as well as participation of new team members.
This is Kane and Bhattacharya's third year of being involved in the non-profit event that happens in different locations all over North America and benefits cancer agencies. "The first year in Vancouver, half of the funds went to the B.C. Cancer Agency and half to Inspire Health," says Bhattacharya who is a holistic nutritionist working with Inspire Health. She explained that one of the organizers had a personal experience with Inspire Health and wanted to include the organization as a recipient of the funds. From 2011 on, all proceeds from the Vancouver event have been donated to Inspire Health.
"I work with Inspire Health and I love kayaking," Bhattacharya said. "This is a great opportunity to raise some money in a different way." When she first heard about Kayak for a Cure, she immediately thought of Kane and phoned to ask if he wanted to participate. Back then, they didn't have a team name until something special happened. "We got our kayak last and made up the tail end of the group. After we left Jericho beach, all of a sudden, we heard a 'brrr' and Ed said, 'It's a humpback whale.' It breached fairly close to us," Bhattacharya said and Kane added that the whale breached only once but came to the surface a few times to release air through the blow hole. "None of the other kayakers saw it - they were too far ahead," he said.
"It was thrilling to see the whale," Bhattacharya said. "I took it as a sign. We had just lost some patients whom I had become quite close to. To me, it was a spiritual experience. And that was it: we were the whale whisperers."
Kane said that there are probably now around 60 to 80 participants in the event and Bhattacharya added that it has grown over the last three years. "It was bigger last year and now we have an event in Victoria and next year maybe one in the Okanagan," she said. "We just opened the third Inspire Health location. We added one in Victoria last year and this spring, one in Okanagan."
Bhattacharya explained that Inspire Health is a non-profit organization even though parts of the program are covered by the Medical Services Plan (MSP). "Our ultimate goal is to have everything free but at this point, we still have to charge for programs and non-doctors' visits," Bhattacharya said, adding that she has personally requested her proceeds from the fundraiser to go towards a bursary program. "It's my passion to create free access for everyone," she said. Inspire Health offers a two-day-life program that exposes cancer patients to alternative treatment and lifestyle choices. "That is when people come and find out what else is available," Bhattacharya explains. "They get exposed to meditation, accupuncture, yoga and nutrition. From there, they can become members of groups where they have access to yoga, exercise and nutrition drop-in groups." All the group sessions are free but patients are charged for the initial program. Bhattacharya believes that these tools should be available for everyone.
Kane said that they never had a full Bowen Island team and are still looking for participants. "It's a very well-organized event," he said.
And the route is not too challenging, according to Bhattacharya. "We paddle from Jericho to Third Beach, there we have a rest and a snack. And then we paddle back," she said. At Jericho Beach, more food awaits, along with music and prizes. "Last year, we were the third most successful fundraising team out of 15 teams," she said.
"Our goal is to raise $2,000. That's $500 each. If we get six team members, we raise that number to $6,000." Kane said, adding that the cause is a personal one. "My mom beat breast cancer just about everyone has been touched by cancer." Kane has done a number of fundraisers including the Ride to Conquer Cancer and says that he likes Inspire Health's focus on the patient.
In addition to her professional life, Bhattacharya also has a personal connection as her father is a three-time cancer survivor. "One in three British Columbians has a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime. That number is even higher in men. There it is one in two. We really should be doing something about changing that number. The comments I often get at Inspire Health are, 'Why didn't I hear that sooner?' and 'I feel such a sense of empowerment,'" Bhattacharya says, adding that a cancer diagnosis is often accompanied by a sense of helplessness but Inspire Health programs empower people to take actions. "You realize that you have some options, that there are things you can do. For instance, you can affect a little shift in your eating habits or you can learn breathing techniques," she says. "The mind set can make a huge difference. Imagine how many people never find about this."
To sponsor Bhattacharya and Kane, go to http://kayakforacure2012.kintera.org/faf/search/searchParticipants.asp?ievent=1025169&lis=0&kntae1025169=EC6A8F1BF6334BE6B4F6F10EBE9706BF.
