Friends are rallying around an Orillia woman who is awaiting a lung transplant.
Susan (Susie) Lamarche has been staying in Toronto, hopeful a lung, or lungs, will become available soon. In the meantime, her church community is organizing a fundraiser to help Lamarche with related expenses.
A Spa Day for Susie will take place Sept. 14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Westmount United Church, 23 Westmount Dr. S.
“I was having a massage at Synergy Healthcare and I said (to the massage therapist), ‘I really need a good idea for a fundraiser for Susie,’” recalled Pat Swift, who attends the church with Lamarche.
The massage therapist said she had taken part in a spa day fundraiser before, and Swift had her idea.
“By the end of the massage, the idea came together,” she said.
The Spa Day for Susie will include massages (donated by Synergy Healthcare), hairstyling (donated by Audies Hair Design and Sergio’s), cosmetics (donated by Mary Kay), and nail trimming for dogs (donated by Tracey Burke and Heather Noddin).
“Orillia’s such an awesome community,” Swift said of the eager response from those who are helping out.
Lamarche has been attending Westmount United Church for two years.
“Westmount has given Susie a community that cares about her,” Swift said, noting members of the congregation have helped Lamarche in various ways, including driving her to and from appointments in Toronto. “This has been a difficult journey for her. She’s terrified.”
Health is Lamarche’s main concern, but the financial burden is also on her mind.
Lamarche has been living in Toronto because transplant recipients must be within two hours from the hospital to be able to receive the organ when it becomes available. The Ontario Disability Support Program only covers the cost of Lamarche’s apartment in Toronto and cab fare to and from the hospital. She still has to pay rent for her Orillia home and, while in Toronto, “she still has to buy groceries and get to and from the grocery store,” Swift explained, noting Lamarche can’t walk to the store as she is on oxygen 24/7.
While her condition has taken its toll physically and emotionally, Lamarche “now believes that she has a chance,” Swift said.
“Her hope is now there that she’ll see this through.”
Swift encourages the community to attend the fundraiser “to show Susie that she’s important, that she matters.”
“Go get pampered and know that you’re contributing to a great cause,” she said. “It could be you, and we have an obligation to our neighbours.”
Tickets cost $40, and that includes three spa treatments and lunch. Those who want to attend just for lunch can do so for $10. It’s free for those who want to check out the various vendors who will be there and to take part in the silent auction.
Tickets are available at Westmount United Church on weekday mornings, as well as at Synergy Healthcare or by calling or texting Swift at 705-238-6557.
All money raised will be administered by Westmount United Church in accordance with the policies of ODSP.
