Seasons staff participate in the “Show Us Your Brave” challenge for WCCF

Seasons Amherstburg brought in a dunk tank to help fundraise for the “Show Us Your Brave” initiative. Photo by Ward Yorke.

A trio of staff members at Seasons Amherstburg found “their brave” as part of a fundraiser for the Windsor Cancer Centre Foundation (WCCF).

The “Show Us Your Brave” fundraiser was held in downtown Windsor earlier this month with Seasons Amherstburg general manager Tamasin Dineen, leasing manager Morgan Ouimette and fun manager Jenn Lauzon among the participants to rapel down the CIBC building.

Heading into the event, emotions ranged from terrified to excited, but the three staff members at Seasons wanted to do it not just as a fundraiser for the WCCF, but to support Seasons Amherstburg resident Don Bodenham. 

Bodenham’s wife Marie died of cancer and was supported by the Windsor Cancer Centre. He moved into Seasons shortly after she passed away.

Bodenham wanted to rapel down the building himself, but couldn’t due to doctor’s orders. Instead, he rounded up Dineen, Ouimette and Lauzon, who were dubbed “Don’s Angels.”

Dineen said she watched an episode of “The Amazing Race,” and decided to support Bodenham’s request. 

She said it was “not because I wanted to do it but because I can do it.”

Lauzon explained they had an original fundraising goal of $4,500 - $1,500 for each of the three participants – but they smashed that. They raised $12,000. 

“I said (to Bodenham), if you raise $1,500 for Tamasin, I’ll raise $1,500 and go with her,” said Lauzon.

“I said, ‘if you guys do it, I’ll do it,’” added Ouimette.

“Don’s Angels” credited Bodenham for making a generous donation and rallying other Seasons Amherstburg members to get involved and donating. They had a dunk tank and barbecue fundraiser with the Amherstburg Firefighters Association and local council members getting involved June 13.

“The giant ball (of fundraising) started rolling,” said Dineen. “It just got bigger and bigger.”

“We’re doing it as a team, a team of women,” added Lauzon.

Bodenham said he saw information for the “Show Us Your Brave” event online and wanted to give back. He recalled the treatment he and his wife received and wanted to do something for the cancer centre.

“You couldn’t possibly ask for better treatment,” he said. 

Bodenham said Marie was always giving back to people and putting others first. Even though he couldn’t do it himself, he joked he “managed to coerce these three young ladies into it.”

To raise upwards of $12,000 at Seasons felt really good, he added. He knows his wife would approve.

“We were married 52 years,” he said. “It is still the best 52 years of my life.”

Seasons staff participate in the “Show Us Your Brave” challenge for WCCF

By Ron Giofu