Coworkers fighting cancer

Photo: Chelsea Powrie

Coworkers Amy, left, and Megan, right, support each other while Amy battles cancer.

The caregivers at Haven Hill Retirement Centre consider themselves more like family than coworkers, so when two of their own were diagnosed with cancer, the group sprang into action.

Megan Hyde organized a silent auction pub night at the Barley Mill on Sunday night, with the bar donating the entire space for the night and offering food specials, and the place was packed. 

"It's not only staff here, there are people just random that saw it on Facebook, wanted to be a part of it, the community came together in such a huge way," Hyde said. "And everything here is donated, it's been overwhelming."

Three tables overflowing with donated gift baskets and local products and services filled one portion of the bar, and Hyde sold entrance and 50/50 tickets as well. 

"We're just trying to raise as much money as we can so they don't have to worry about those things when they're going through chemo," Hyde said. "So they can just worry about getting healthy and being healthy."

"They" are Amy Lynn Watt and Jason Sklofsky, two caregivers both diagnosed in December within a week of each other. Josh is in Vancouver undergoing chemotherapy, and Watt begins her chemo in a few days.

Watt got emotional describing how it feels to be so supported by her work family.

"Absolutely wonderful. Overwhelming. Amazing," Watt said. "It's not what you expect to go through when you're 33, breast cancer."

She had a double mastectomy in late January, and has a brutal seven months of chemo ahead of her. Sklofsky has been fighting for his life and receiving blood transfusions and bone marrow transfers in Vancouver. 

For Hyde, there was no hesitation as soon as she heard. She knew she had to do something to help. 

"We're caregivers. Most people who get into this profession do it because they have a lot of love to give," Hyde said. 

It's also personal to her — and, she argues, for everyone.

"In this day and age, you cannot find someone that hasn't been affected by cancer. My dad lost his battle to cancer a little over a year ago," Hyde said, her voice breaking with emotion. "Everybody you know has either been touched by it, affected by it, or has had it."

That's why Hyde hopes to continue the fundraising, through two email accounts set up to help Watt and Sklofsky. They've chosen to forego GoFundMe to save on the fees. Hyde hopes anyone who wants to help will e-Transfer even a little money, because with a lot of people, small amounts add up to a lot. 

"It's really just amazing to see how amazing our town can be when something horrible happens, they really come together," Hyde said.

To donate to Watt's fight against cancer, contact [email protected], and for Sklofsky, email Hyde directly at [email protected].