HAMILTON-WENTWORTH CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
St. Thomas More Catholic Secondary School students aid Cancer Assistance Program in support of teacher

By Mark Newman
Hamilton Mountain News

Claudia Sambuco said it was a head scarf supplied by the Cancer Assistance Program that gave her self-confidence and the courage to move forward.

The English, leadership and yearbook teacher at St. Thomas More Catholic Secondary School reached out to the program after she was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in Nov. 2021.

"When you have cancer, you feel very lonely," said Sambuco, who has been on medical leave from the west Mountain school since last December.

Since then, she has undergone chemotherapy, radiation therapy and other treatments.

Sambuco said she lost her hair, eyebrows and eyelashes.

"To be honest, it was really frightening," said Sambuco, who wanted to find a head scarf so she could go out in public without feeling self-conscious.

She couldn't find one she liked online and turned to the assistance program, which offers a variety of free services, supplements and equipment to cancer patients and their families.

"(The Cancer Assistance Program) was very warm and inviting," she said. "They offered me an array (of head coverings)."

Shortly after she was diagnosed, Sambuco's situation and her relationship with the program spread quickly among her senior peer leadership students, who sprang into action.

A series of fundraising events (the leadership students fundraise in support of a number of charities) were held, and the students presented a $1,000 cheque to the Cancer Assistance Program inside a packed school gymnasium on Sept. 29.

"When we found out about Ms. Sambuco, we wanted to do something, we wanted to show our support in some way," said 17-year-old Grade 12 student Shiza Shaid.

"She is more like a friend," said Mikhael Solomon, 17, in Grade 12. "When we found out she had cancer, we were very devastated but wanted to do everything we can to help her."

Media Feta, another one of Sambuco's students, said they discussed several fundraising ideas.

"We had ideas and we (took them) to the principal, and he was saying which one we should do and what steps we should take to get to this point," said the 17-year-old Grade 12 student.

"We really appreciate her and are really grateful for what she taught us," said Marie-Paul Duwai-Sowa, a 16-year-old Grade 12 student. "Doing this for her was a great way for us to show how much we care."

Rwan Ibrhim, another 17-year-old Grade 12 student, said Sambuco is her favourite teacher.

"I don't think of her as a teacher, more as a friend," Ibrhim said.

Sambuco was introduced to Cancer Assistance Program by teacher colleague Lisa Owens. She is a former chair of the organization and is still an active volunteer with the Concession Street program.

"Claudia needed help," Owens recalled. "I said reach out to (Cancer Assistance Program) because we can certainly help you with parking, rides, equipment and head scarf coverings which she did; that was a game-changer with the head scarf."

Back at the school gym, Sambuco praised the work of her students.

"They're very mature, responsible and they are leaders," she said. "I'm just really proud of the maturity and the support and love they showed when I was diagnosed."

Sambuco said she hopes to return to teaching next year.

"I'm feeling good, just a little tired still," she said.

Cancer Assistance Program executive director Debbie Logel Butler said the leadership of the students bodes well for the future.

"How inspiring it is to see growing philanthropists," she said. "How much we look to the next generation of philanthropic leaders and we are so excited and so thankful for this gift today."

Outside this venture, Claudia Sambuco raised over $5,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society through the CIBC Run for the Cure. "I've always donated to the Canadian Cancer Society," she said. "So this year it was extra special." Sambuco plans to direct her funds to women who have metastatic cancer.