MONDAY JANUARY 12, 2015
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THE BULLETIN PROUDLY SERVING KIMBERLEY AND AREA SINCE 1932 | Vol. 83, Issue 07 | www.dailybulletin.ca
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Slopes For Hope returns in February Annual skiing, boarding for Cancer Society event Ingrid Steppan and Dr. Harry Atkins
SUBMITTED
Steppan recovering, still hopes to come home TRE VOR CR AWLEY
A local woman yearning to come home is hoping to find a family doctor in the face of what she calls a miraculous recovery from a crippling disease. Ingrid Steppan has been fighting Stiff Person Syndrome since 2008, but recently underwent a groundbreaking treatment in Ottawa that she calls a cure. In order to return to Cranbrook, she needs to find a family doctor in the area or close enough to home who can monitor her recovery. Stiff Person Syndrome, a rare neurological disease, is characterized by progressive rigidity and stiffness, with symptoms including postural deformities, chronic pain and impaired mobility. After being told that she would likely die from the disease, she packed up and moved to Saskatchewan before getting involved with a doctor in Ottawa who was able to treat her condition. What’s miraculous about her recovery is the treatment she received
from Dr. Harry Atkins, the Attending Physician, Blood and Marrow Transplant Program at the Ottawa Hospital eight and a half months ago. Atkins’ program featured treatment with stem cells that Steppan grew in her body over a 10-day period. Afterwards, the stem cells were harvested and she went through three weeks of chemotherapy that wiped out her immune system for the duration of the treatment. For the entire procedure, there was no operation that required going under the knife, as previously and erroneously reported in the Daily Townsman. “A person can have a stem-cell transplant. It was not bad at all. I did not have a hard time,” said Steppan. “…I stayed in the hospital for 23 days because you lose your immune system—it wipes it right out—but other than that, it was great, and there was a total support system all the way around, whether it was psychological, social work, endocrinology.” See STEPPAN, page 4
C AROLYN GR ANT Bulletin Editor
Slopes for Hope, a day of skiing and boarding in support of the Canadian Cancer Society, was born in Kimberley five years ago, and has since spread to ski hills across British Columbia. The challenge is to ski or board the height of Mt. Everest in one day, but each year organizers keep the event interesting by adding more activities. Last year a Nordic Trek was added by the Kimberley Nordic Club — a 30 km ski on the Nordic Trails. That addition was a great success and will be offered again this year. And another event has been added for the 2015 Slopes for Hope, which is scheduled for February 28, 2015 at the Kimberley Alpine Resort and the Kimberley Nordic Club. This year, in addition to the downhill and Nordic challenges, the extra fit will be challenged to a vertical Everest climb. The challenge will be to Snowshoe or ski tour up North Star Mountain to the Kootenay Haus. A two loop course will be set up the Boundary ski run at the Kimberley Alpine Resort. As a partner to Slopes for Hope, the Kimberley Alpine Resort offers half price lift tickets to participants, with the first 20 to register receiving free lift
FILE PHOTOS
While raising funds for the Canadian Cancer Society, Slopes for Hope is a day of fun, with live music, friendly competition and great community spirit.
tickets. Those skiing and riding for Slopes for Hope also get priority lift access, so no lineups. There are also free day passes to the Kimberley Nordic Trails for participants on the day of the event thanks to the support of the Kimberley Nordic Club You can participate individually or as part of teams of up to four persons. Here’s the lineup for the day. Date: Saturday, February 28, 2015 Time: 9am - 4pm Location: Kimberley Alpine Resort & Kimberley Nordic Club 9 am - Event Registration and Free Breakfast at The Stemwinder at Kimberley Alpine Resort 9:30 am - Opening Ceremonies & participant mandatory event safety meeting
12 pm - Free barbecue 3 pm - New Indoor Closing Ceremonies at The Stemwinder, prizes awarded within each Everest challenge category to the top fundraisers (min. of $100 raised) plus the courageous head shaving event in support of Kimberley’s Tim Besold 4 pm - Official after party at The Stemwinder. Event slide show and live music. Transportation to the Kimberley Nordic Club provided by Simply Kimberley from 9:45am-3:15 p.m. Last year’s Slopes for Hope in Kimberley raised $40,000 and the goal is to exceed that this year. To sign up for Slopes for Hope check out the Slopes for Hope Kimberley Facebook page and follow the links.