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Posted by: Ryan_Williams on 04/13/2009 01:12 PM
Updated by: furlong on 04/13/2009 01:12 PM
Expires: 01/01/2014 12:00 AM

Breast cancer survivor night at Canadore College

Susan Plamondon (left) Anita Spalding (right) enjoying a night out for breast cancer survivor night.

Canadore College' student-run pizzeria business hosted a breast cancer survivor night dinner in the Canadore Dinning Room.

By Ryan Williams
theclaw.ca

Breast cancer survivor night was the theme as the Canadore College student run pizzeria restaurant Ripped Roma came to a close for the year.

Anita Spalding, a member of the Canadian Cancer Society who has battled cancer, came to show her appreciation of the student’s themed night.

“I am a breast cancer survivor since 1978, so it’s over 30 years,” Spalding declared proudly.

The restaurant, which is run completely by students in the Hotel, Resort and Restaurant Management and in the Culinary Administration programs, came up with the idea together to help raise funds for the fight to cure breast cancer.

“It’s unfortunate but students have the reputation for not caring, and they just want to have a good time,” Spalding said, clearly disagreeing with the stereotype.

“Boy! You come in here and you see the amount of work they (students) put in here and you see there are a lot of committed students,” Spalding explained.

Overwhelmed by the customers and students/staff showing their devotion to the cause; Spalding heaped praise on the organizers.

“I think your (restaurant students/staff) to be congratulated on that.”

Lisa Cooper, in third-year Hotel, Restaurant and Resort Management, was one of the students who came up with the idea to base the night's theme at the restaurant on generating cash to help find a cure for the disease.

“We find with breast cancer most people have been affected by it,” Cooper explained.

The Culinary Administration students prepared; the Hospitality students delivered the goods. Enough of them from both groups have been affected by this disease and that they were happy to donate 10% of their final earnings to the Canadian Cancer Society for breast cancer research.

“My aunt actually has breast cancer and she just finished her treatments,” said a visibly emotional Copper. “And my great aunt has had it so we find that touches more people.”

The group also added the symbolic pink ribbon to their restaurant's sign.

While having dinner, Spalding reflected on how important the evening was for her personally and the group as a whole.

“I think what it brings home is there’s so much caring and you don’t have to be old,” Spalding said of her primarily young student reatuarateurs.

And the food helped to bring the cancer survivor Spalding back for more and more.

“I’ve been here a few times before and I’ve always enjoyed the meal,” Spalding admitted.

The atmosphere of the restaurant also helped set the mood and help people relax. With a wide variety of pizzas and desserts the restaurant has become a big hit.

“It’s a very relaxing atmosphere. We had a pizza and some coffee and they were both really good,” Spalding added.

Agreeing to commit to help the students next year by supplying ribbons and flowers, Spalding and fellow Canadian Cancer Society member Susan Plamondon laughed and had just one question.

“Do we have to be invited or should we just come?”