The ultimate football experience was enjoyed by young cancer survivor Jola Bell, and her mother Jaren Bell, after traveling to Vancouver for the Grey Cup.
The opportunity was provided by the Chris Knox Foundation, who sent 13 youth either dealing with cancer, or who survived cancer, and their family members to the game. Jola said she feels so lucky and fortunate that she was chosen for the experience to attend the game with her mom.
In addition to attending the Grey Cup, their group also visited the aquarium, watched the Vanier Cup, participated in the Scotiabank CFL experience, and rode in the Grey Cup parade. Jola's favourite experience was watching Nickleback perform.
Compared to the atmosphere in Regina, the Grey Cup game was "loud and fun," said Jola. The Vancouver stadium is domed, so both Jola and Jaren were warm the whole time.
Jola was excited about the fact she got to share the experience with friends that she met during her treatment in Regina.
One of the cancer patients that Jola got to know during her recovery was Chris Knox, a former Weyburn resident who lost his battle with cancer in 2007, and for whom the Foundation was named in memory.
"We used to go visit him," said Jola. "He was nice, kind, helpful and fun."
Jola, age nine, dealt with Acute lymphoblastic leukemia cancer two and half years ago. She spent most of her time in the Pasqua Hospital battling the disease, and is happy to now be returned to her home and family.
The Chris Knox Foundation was started in 2008 by Chris' mother Sharla Folk and the board of directors. The goal of the Foundation is to help children and young adults, up to the age of 30, attend sporting, fine arts and cultural events during treatment, giving them a much deserved reprieve and create memories with their families.
"They help a lot of kids, and take them away from their treatments for a little while," noted Jaren. She added that the other families that are helped by the Chris Knox Foundation feel like family to both her and Jola. "It is a very generous foundation."
"Sharla and Kim (Folk), and George (Yannitso) do an amazing job," said Jaren about the main organizers of the Chris Knox Foundation. To date they have helped over 800 children. "A lot of their support comes from the Weyburn area."
Looking back to their time in Regina when Jola was battling her cancer, it was a challenging time. "It was not that fun. It was nice when we got to play in the play structure."
Jaren noted that they had "wonderful caring nurses," during the time spent in the Pasqua.
In addition to going through chemotherapy, Jola underwent a couple of surgeries. One was for a port line into her heart, to allow access for the chemo.
"Then she outgrew it, and they had to take it out," said Jaren. "They also took bone marrow samples out of her hip, and they put her into the OR (operating room) every time she got chemo into her spinal fluid."
After two and a half years of remission, Jola is doing great, with no problems.
"We are so grateful, so lucky," said Jaren.
