‘Each day is a gift’

SALISBURY — The Salisbury School boathouse on Twin Lakes was the venue for the fifth annual Cancer Survivors Day celebration on June 7. This celebratory event is organized by Tri-State We Can Row, with assistance from a large group of area organizations, health-care providers and businesses. The joint chairs are Donna DiMartino of the Sharon Health Care Center; Jim Hutchison of Sharon Hospital; Harriett Weiss of the Health Care Auxiliary for the Tri-State Region and Noreen Driscoll of Sweethaven Farm. Approximately 100 cancer survivors and their family members attended the event.DiMartino is a five-and-a-half year cancer survivor. “This event is a celebration for cancer survivors,” she said, adding that, “For survivors, every day is a celebration.”Tri-State We Can Row is a group of female cancer survivors who meet during appropriate weather to row in a crew shell on the Twin Lakes. Women of all ages participate. They row to celebrate their life and health and the friendships they treasure. They do it for the exercise. And they do it for the pure joy it brings them. “This is our fifth year. Each year new people join us,” DiMartino said. “And we are all survivors.” Surviving begins, she added, on the first day of diagnosis.In addition to celebrating their own lives, Tri-State We Can Row members want this celebration, and every day, to honor the families, the caregivers and all the other people who have helped them. “Surviving cancer is a team effort,” DiMartino said. “We could not do it without each and every person helping us.”With a big smile on her face, she added, “This is a day of celebration. Today is the day I am here and I’m glad. Each day is a gift.” In addition to speeches, congratulations and a trip out on the water, Cancer Survivors Day Celebration also included food and drink and a raffle for an airplane ride over the Twin Lakes.The rowers also demonstrated their crew skills, working together to lift the shell over their heads. “This is what cancer survival is all about,” one woman said. “Teamwork!”Joe Loverro, cancer survivor and former radio personality for radio station WQQQ-103.3FM, was the disc jockey for the event. Joe Hajek, husband of a cancer survivor, said the rowers and their families all enjoy coming to this beautiful spot. Nicholas Bruehl, whose wife Martha is a six-year survivor, said the Twin Lakes provide a peaceful and beautiful setting for the rowers and their spouses. “With the hills in the background, it’s like being in Switzerland,” he said.