Lambton Lions go to bat for Bluewater Health cancer care clinic

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When a breast cancer diagnosis threw a curveball at Erika and Al Bezaire, Bluewater Health doctors and nurses stepped to the plate.

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A year after Erika was declared cancer-free, the grateful Port Lambton couple is saying thank you with a fundraiser.

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The Lambton College baseball team coached by Al is hosting Curveballs for Cancer Care at a Sept. 20 doubleheader against Sault College at Errol Russell Park.

Proceeds go to the redevelopment of Bluewater Health’s cancer care clinic.

“It’s just a way for us to show our thanks for the incredible care that they provided us,” Al Bezaire said. “We just hope … (other people) who have to go through that kind of treatment will receive the exact same care we did, but in a new, modern facility.”

The hospital’s fundraising arm is running a $5 million campaign for the multi-year renovation project.

Erika, a mother of three young daughters, was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer in the summer of 2023. She was 41 years old.

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Over the next year, she had two surgeries, 16 chemotherapy treatments and 20 radiation treatments.

By the summer of 2024, the cancer was gone. Erika still takes medication, but she’s back to work as a respiratory therapist at the Chatham hospital.

“Overall, things are great,” Al said. “We’re very lucky.”

The operations and radiation took place in London, but the chemotherapy and visits with her medical oncologist were at Bluewater Health.

“She received incredible care there,” Al said. “The whole oncology nurse team’s absolutely amazing. Dr. (Julie) Lebert, amazing.

“The hardest part was the chemo. The fact that we could do it close to home, close to supports — families, friends, things like that — we really believe that was a huge part in her navigating this little cancer curveball.”

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His Lions players are selling raffle tickets and seeking sponsors for the fundraiser.

“(We’re) really using it as an opportunity for them as well to teach about volunteerism and supporting your community and trying to do things that are bigger than themselves,” Al said.

The response has been incredible, he said.

The 2,000 raffle tickets are sold out. The 1 p.m. doubleheader will also have a penny raffle, contests and games.

Admission is free, but donations to the Bluewater Health Foundation are welcome.

Bezaire’s initial goal was $2,500. He now expects to bring in “tens of thousands of dollars.”

“We’re excited to see what that number’s going to be,” he said. “It’s going to be nothing near $2,500, I know that. It’ll be great.”

He thanks the sponsors, donors and volunteers for all their help.

“It’s been amazing,” he said. “The sponsorships have poured in. Donations, prize donations — it’s been great feedback from our community.”

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