Community rallies for the Cowdys

Oct 20, 2011

Photo: One of many who stepped up to the plate for the Cowdys at Olden Ball Park on Saturday

October 15 was a day to remember for Scott and Angie Cowdy as they greeted supporters at a number of community events that were organized to help support the couple and their two children through Scott's cancer ordeal. Scott and Angie have been making numerous trips to Toronto so that Scott can receive alternative therapy and treatments following his diagnosis on August 6 of a diffused astrocytoma stage 2 brain tumor. Prior to the diagnosis, Scott had suffered numerous seizures and had a series of cat scans, the third of which detected the tumor. On August 12 Scott underwent surgery at Kingston General Hospital and doctors were able to remove a third of the tumor. While they await further tests and possible radiation treatment to see how the tumor reacts to the surgery, the couple has since made five trips to Toronto, where Scott has been receiving treatments from a homeopathic doctor. The funds raised from Saturday’s events will help to pay for those traveling expenses and the treatments, the latter of which alone cost $500 per visit.

Scott’s cousin, Art Cowdy, organized a friendly ball tournament and on Saturday seven teams comprised of close to 100 players gathered under a chilly, grey sky and stepped up to bat for the cause, which raised $1700. The event was followed by a completely sold-out silent auction, organized by Scott’s sister, Brenda Martin and a dance, organized by the Olden Fire Department, at St. James Major in Sharbot Lake where local businesses and individuals in the community donated hundreds of items that went up for auction. The auction and dance were followed by an impromptu buffet with food donated from individuals in the community. The Cowdys, who both work in the Sharbot Lake community - Angie at RBC and Scott as a grader operator for the Township of Central Frontenac - were stunned by the ongoing outpouring of community support. “We're absolutely floored, and every day something else seems to be happening,” Angie said. “Before we were even home from the hospital after the surgery, things would be done at our home and stuff dropped off that still, to this day, I don't even know who did it. It’s been really overwhelming.” The couple just moved into their new home in September.

They are now awaiting the results of a post-op MRI that will give them a better idea of what they will be up against next and how the rest of their journey will unfold. “We were told that surgery will either accelerate the growth of the tumor or slow it down. What they have told Scott is that this type of cancer is very rare and it’s still up in the air as to which avenues we can use to treat it.”

Brenda Martin, who organized the auction, was thrilled to report that the auction raised another $5200. “We were over our target for sure and regarding personal donations, we far exceeded our expectations as well and we're overwhelmed by the huge outpouring of support.”

As the Cowdys wait to hear what the next step will be, they can rest assured that the community is right behind them every step of the way.