WEDNESDAY
$1.25
inc. H.S.T.
April 18, 2012
A division of
Vol. 27 No. 31
COMOX VALLEY RECORD Your community. Your newspaper. www.comoxvalleyrecord.com
fightback.ca
PIANO PRODIGY DIGY
Young Carter Johnson plays piano this weekend. ■ 12
SURGENOR SKATES
The 2012 Male U16 BC Cup was held in West Kelowna at the Royal LePage Place from April 12-15. The top 16 Under 16 players in BC Hockey attended the four-day event. Included in that elite group was Joe Surgenor of Courtenay, who played forward for Team Avalanche. Surgenor collected four points to help the Avalanche finish seventh at the eight-team event.
... Complete story on ■ 23
REAL HOT WHEELS Comox Valley RCMP and the Cumberland Fire Department responded Saturday shortly after 8 a.m. to a car fire on Highway 19 just south of the Cumberland interchange. The owner reported the fire to his older van. There were no injuries reported. PHOTOS BY ALLAN GRAY
Reaching out with help for those in need Renée Andor Record Staff
FINDER ■ Weather
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■ Lottery
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■ Ferry Schedule
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■ Arts
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■ Sports
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■ Classified
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■ Editorial
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■ Opinion
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At a time when many people would focus solely on themselves and their loved one, Shawn Wood, 28, is reaching out to help others. Wood’s fiancée Emily Niinemets, 24, was diagnosed with aggressive lymphoma cancer in early January. She has been undergoing chemotherapy treatments and has often been very low on energy — sometimes she is unable to get out of bed. But, while many people would
hunker down and focus solely on caring for their sick fiancée, Wood decided he wants to help others in situations similar to Niinemets’. Wood owns College Pro Window Cleaning, and will donate 10 per cent of his company’s profits to the BC Cancer Agency. He also plans to spend two to three Saturdays per month providing his services free of charge to Comox Valley cancer patients. His reason for helping others? Simple. He can see what it’s like to be a cancer patient. “When I see my fiancée battling
through this, I can see how rough it could be for someone to try to do something for themselves,” said Wood. “I understand what it is like to have no energy, and need some extra help.” Wood added he and his fiancée have a huge support network of family and friends in the Valley, which takes a bit of the stress off them, and he will have more employees this spring and summer, allowing him to work a bit less than previously and spend more time with Niinemets. Also, “My Saturdays them-
selves are usually the days she spends with her mom so I thought that’d be a good chance for me to get out and do something,” added Wood. While Wood said he wants to help cancer patients he noted that he will help others who need it. “If I can just help anyone — that’s really the goal — so anyone who’s just really in need I have no problem helping them out,” he explained. “So, I’d hear their story, why they need it, and then I’d decide if they would qualify for ... see FIANCÉE ■ 2
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