Central Plains Cancer Services one of few to continue work throughout pandemic

Central Plains Cancer Services in Portage la Prairie looks back through the last 12 months, faring through the loosening of COVID-19 restrictions. Executive Director Sharilyn Knox says it’s really been quite a normal year, thankfully.

“It was great,” says Knox. “We jumped right back in the swing of things. Our organization really kept going throughout the pandemic when it came to our services. This year, we got right back into our fundraising events and different special events that we hold. So, that was great.”

She explains they were actually one of the only cancer services in the country that continued to offer help.

“We still get thanks from people because we made it available for them to continue their treatments and get people where they needed to go,” continues Knox.

Knox notes one highlight of the year was their Table for 600.

“It was so great to have it back and, of course, it was a sellout,” says Knox. “We had great weather, great people and just great fun. So, we're thrilled to have it back and, as you know, we do this every two years. We look forward to 2024.”

As for 2023, she says they’re doing a radio-thon through our studios at Golden West Broadcasting.

“We’ll be giving more information on that starting in the new year, which is exciting,” adds Knox. “We also have an event that we're running out at Southport and it's an event that you can enter in teams. So that's exciting. It's kind of a third-party event where people have approached us. Then there’s the Ride for the Boys snowmobile ride that’s back. That’s so exciting with the snow that came this week. I'm not a real big fan of winter, but I realized that when you're having things like a snowmobile event, you want snow. So, that's happening at the beginning of February.”

One way in which you can help their services in the new year is to donate your time by driving people to their appointments.

“It is a really big area,” says Knox. “We're really looking for drivers in the area north of Highway 16, meaning the Alonsa and Amaranth areas that are always looking, so reach out.”

Knox adds she loves their organization as well as the people they help, and they’re looking forward to what 2023 has to offer.