Olivia Hazen is using her creativity to give back to others facing cancer. She knows the journey firsthand, having battled the disease herself.
Knitting became an easy hobby to pass the time during chemo and other treatments. Last fall, Olivia began making knitted pumpkins for Austin’s Pumpkin Patch on Cockshutt Road, where they were sold as part of the annual fundraiser.
All proceeds from Olivia’s pumpkins, along with sales from Austin’s Pick-Your-Own Pumpkin Patch, support the Juravinski Cancer Centre in Hamilton. Funds raised this year will go toward purchasing radiation immobilization boards, critical equipment used for patients with cancers of the head, neck, lung, and breast.
These carbon fiber boards cost just over $16k, keeping patients perfectly still and improving safety and treatment accuracy. Families can support the cause by visiting Austin’s Pumpkin Patch at 2591 Cockshutt Rd in Waterford, where real pumpkins range from $2 to $10.
Written by Jeremy Hall