Ladysmith Chronicle, September 16, 2014

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Farmers’ market wraps up successful season P. 4

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Transit sees slow growth over first year P. 3

Ladysmith woman knows both the agony and rewards of the gruelling Tour de Rock Dan Ebenal

said Dmytar. “It did but it also brought out emotions in me that I hadn’t felt since GrifTHE CHRONICLE fyn’s diagnosis. Just seeing moms on the Misty Dmytar knows all about the Tour de side of the road handing $50 or $100 bills Rock — from the burning muscles and driv- to the riders, saying thank you for what you ing rain that washes over the riders to the do and then hearing their story of how they smiles it brings to the faces of the children lost their child.” She was taken by the generosity encounwho inspire them. The Ladysmith mother and Nanaimo tered every step along the way. “I just was in awe of how amazing VancouRCMP constable conquered the grueling 1,000-kilometre ride last year, an image of ver Island is when it comes to the Tour de her young son helping to push her through Rock,” said Dmytar, who was amazed by how each community came together and the pain. Griffyn Dmytar, who turns four this De- how even small communities managed to cember, was diagnosed with neuroblas- raise such sizable amounts. “Places like toma — a rare form of infant cancer that Sayward, where there’s only 800 or 900 affects the nervous system — only a few people, and they raised $16,000. That was days after he was born. Doctors removed a just phenomenal to me.” The emotional toll was tougher than the tumour the size of a baseball from Griffyn physical challenge for Dmytar, although by the time he was 10 days old. “He was three weeks early so he was there were still days along the route when quite small and the tumour weighed half a she wondered just what she had got herself into. pound,” recalls his mother. Griffyn was released from hospital Dec. “The hardest part for me was the 140 km 26 but three months later they found anoth- to Sayward and it wasn’t because of the er tumour on his adrenal gland and spots distance, it was because of the cold and the on his liver. So Dmytar packed up her in- rain. And I had pulled my Achilles tendon fant son and headed back to B.C. Children’s so I had an injury that I was nursing. I’m Misty Dmytar and her son Griffyn gear up for the Tour de Rock, which gets rolling Saturday DAN EBENAL Hospital for another five months of treat- sure there were points of the ride where I in Port Alice. thought ‘What am I doing?’” to go through.” week stay next summer. ment. But every time Dmytar would hit a rough When asked about the highlight of her exIn the meantime, Griffyn will serve as “He has been cancer-free for two years now. He is happy and healthy,” she said. “He patch, she would look down at the picture perience Dmytar didn’t hesitate to point to a junior rider for two other Tour de Rock the camp on Loon Lake near Maple Ridge participants this year, while Dmytar will be doesn’t remember much because he was so of Griffyn she carried with her. “You just have to glance down at that pic- for children with cancer and their families. working with the support team for the first little but he’s starting to ask about the scars ture and you seem to find the strength to “When we went to Camp Goodtimes and week of the trek. on his body and what they’re from.” This year’s Tour de Rock runs from Sept. Griffyn’s battle with the disease and the in- make it up that hill when you’re struggling.” these kids were laughing and smiling. It Each rider is assigned a junior rider to was like they didn’t have a care in the world. 20 to Oct. 3, with the riders rolling through credible care and people she encountered while at Children’s Hospital are what first serve as an inspiration on the journey and You can’t put a price on it. You can’t even Ladysmith Sept. 29. Last year’s tour raised drew Dmytar to the Tour de Rock, embark- Griffyn was the one who kept Dmytar going. describe how you felt when you saw it be- more than $1.1 million for pediatric cancer “You might think you’re having a bad day cause it was magical.” research and programs to help children ing on the 1,000-km trek from Port Alice to but watching your child or another child Dmytar and Griffyn will get to feel a little with cancer and their families. The event Victoria last September. “For me, I thought that maybe doing the go through treatment, that’s a bad day. It’s bit of that magic themselves when their has raised almost $20 million since its inTour de Rock would bring me some closure,” nothing compared to what these kids have family heads to Camp Goodtimes for a one- ception in 1998.

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