| Cottage Dreams is a not-for-profit
organization that provides adults and children living with cancer and cancer
survivors the use of a donated cottage to spend a week alone with their
family, away from doctors, hospitals and treatments.
WHO ARE THE PARTICIPANTS? The recipients are currently in remission or are recuperating from a cancer scare and would benefit from time spent with their family enjoying the peace and quiet of Ontario's cottage country. WHO ARE THE DONATORS? Those who are fortunate enough to have a vacation property and are willing to donate it to Cottage Dreams for one or more weeks a year. This is the opportunity to give the gift of peace of mind and family time to those who have recently fought the battle of their lives. WHEN WILL THE COTTAGES BE AVAILABLE? With each of the four seasons holding their own unique beauty and inspiration, we will offer cottages all year round. Our fall, winter and spring cottages will be winterized in order to provide the necessary requirements of comfort (i.e. water and heat), while our summer cottages may be more rustic and charming. HOW WILL WE CHOOSE THE PARTICIPANTS? Working closely with cancer support organizations, we will select participants based on their current health status. We will require a consultation with the treating physician to confirm this decision is prudent. As well, we will ensure the visitors commitment to respectful and appropriate care of the donated property. Any input or requests the donators have regarding the visitors will be considered in the application process. WILL THE PARTICIPANTS BE WELL ENOUGH TO ENJOY THEIR TIME AWAY? The participants will be in remission or a recent cancer survivor. Our participants will not be undergoing radiation or chemotherapy treatments or will they be recuperating from recent surgery. Our participants will be emerging from the battle of their lives. It is paramount to ensure the participants and their families get the most enjoyment from their time away and the donators can rest assured that their generosity will not result in an unpleasant experience. WHAT IF THERE IS AN EMERGENCY? Each of the cottages will be within half an hour to forty-five minutes of a hospital. Each cottage will be easily accessed from the driveway and every cottage will have a working telephone. It is up to the patient and his/her family to make all medical-related arrangements with their doctor(s) to ensure this is not an impractical decision. Cottage Dreams will make the final decision once the participant has been screened and evaluated. PROTECTION FOR OWNERS AND PARTICIPANTS As with the renting out their cottage for profit, each participant will sign a waiver releasing the owner and Cottage Dreams from any liability. As well, it is the responsibility of the cottage owner to ensure they have adequate insurance for the "renting" of their property. WHO ARE WE? Cottage Dreams is the brainchild of Seana O’Neill, a life-long cottager whose mother fought breast cancer in 1988. Seana grew up in Toronto but spent summers and holidays at her family's cottage on Lake of Bays. Recently, she and husband Tavis and two young sons Jaiden and Jackson bought a cottage in Haliburton. By the way, Seana’s mother Marcy is healthy and plays an active role in Cottage Dreams. WHY BECOME A PARTICIPANT? As a cottage owner it is likely that your cottage is your home away from home. It is used for family time, rest, relaxation and peace of mind, well imagine if you had battled cancer but didn't have the luxury of getting away from it all to a place to gather your thoughts. It is the intention of Cottage Dreams to initiate the sharing of what we have with those who have won the battle of their lives and deserve a little family time, rest, relaxation and peace of mind. I will be offering my property to Cottage Dreams in the summer of 2003. I hope you will too. PLEASE FILL OUT OUR QUESTIONNAIRE
Please feel free to contact Seana O’Neill:Thank you for your time.Phone: (705) 448-9190with any questions, thoughts or cottage donations. |