Lennie Rampone and Aaron Marsh are long-time residents of the Okanagan. They’re fathers, coaches, and community ambassadors. It is a priority for them to take initiatives to help GIVE BACK to the community they have grown to love. This includes food drives for The Kelowna Food Bank, winter coat drives for those in need, and many other fundraising endeavours throughout the year.
Meet Connor Morcom.
Lennie Rampone was fortunate enough to coach 8 year old Connor Morcom a few years ago during his initiation year in Kelowna Minor Hockey.
Last year, his parents, Lee-Ann and Darren noticed that Connor had consistent problems with his eyesight. Though he was fitted with glasses, Lee-Ann and Darren weren’t convinced the problem began and ended with his vision. Eventually, an ophthalmologist agreed and sent Connor for a CT scan at Kelowna General Hospital. In Vancouver, a craniotomy determined Connor had medulloblastoma, a form of brain cancer that starts at the base of the skull and can spread to other parts of the brain and spinal cord. By February of 2016, Connor and Lee-Ann moved to Vancouver’s Ronald McDonald House for Connor’s 31 rounds of intense radiation to his brain and spine over six weeks at nearby BC Children’s Hospital. After a break and respite back in the Okanagan, they returned for his maintenance phase: six months of chemotherapy, or six 28-day rounds that had them spend three days every cycle in the hospital and returning for bi-weekly follow-up appointments.
“At just eight years old, Connor has had to endure more than 25 blood or platelet transfusions,” says mom, Lee-Ann.
Lee-Ann has witnessed firsthand the difference that blood donations can make on young patients while supporting her son while he endures months of cancer treatments. Patients undergoing chemotherapy often suffer from anemia. Tragically, the Morcom’s are battling their biggest hurdle to date and I’m sure, like us, many of you feel helpless and desperate to help.
In an attempt to help support the Morcom family, Rampone-Marsh Mortgages will be holding its first annual blood drive for Connor Morcom from January 24th to January 31st, 2017. If you wish to sign up as a donor, please let us know or contact your local Canadian Blood Services clinic and be sure to register under Connor so he knows how much support he has!
Please share and donate (every little bit helps!) and together we can help support this beautiful family in their time of need.
Thank you all so much for your love and support.
