A close friend being diagnosed with cancer was the catalyst for change for Denni Bonetti.
“I had never had cancer that close to me before and it hit me really hard,” explained Bonetti.
“Not to make it about me, but it made me realize that life is too precious, life is too short.”
This was in 2010, and Lyn Stone-Adams, a friend of Bonetti’s since the girls were teenagers, was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer.
“It was a huge eye opener,” Bonetti said. “Forty years old and you are told you have have stage three breast cancer and you have two young teens? There is no way that can’t impact you and the people close to you.”
It prompted Bonetti to quit the job she had held for the past 19 years at the Aldergrove Credit Union.
“As a bank manager, you can imagine stressful, long days and life is just too short,” she said.
“I felt like I had wasted so much time working instead of spending time with my children.
“That made me realize, we need to do what we can.”
Stone-Adams is doing much better now and another one of Bonetti’s friends, was also given a clean bill of health after finishing treatment for lymphoma.
For the second straight year, Bonetti is involved with the Slopes for Hope, a fundraiser at Hemlock Mountain with proceeds going to the Canadian Cancer Society.
The money raised goes towards cancer research, prevention, initiatives, and support programs.
The event will be held on Feb. 9 and participants can sign up as individuals teams for a ski-a-thon in which they attempt to ski or snowboard the vertical equivalent of Mount Everest in one day.
At 8,848 metres, it is the world’s highest mountain.
Registration is $10 (free for kids under 12) and those who raise more than $100 receive a free lift pass for the day as well as the first run of the day.
There will be prizes awarded at the end of the day for the top fundraising team, top fundraiser and best team spirit.
The top fundraising team receives a two-night stay for up to 10 people at Snowflake Resort Chalets at Hemlock Resort during spring break or a three-night stay during the summer.
Last year’s event raised $13,000 with a goal of $16,000 this time.
To register or donate, click here or visit their Facebook page.
— with files from Vikki Hopes/Black Press
