鈥淔or fighters, families, and friends affected by cancer鈥� it鈥檚 on us 鈥� and it works.鈥�
The 鈥渋t鈥� Jamie and Chris Ruscheinski, otherwise known as The Property Twins, are referring to, is counselling.
And when they say it鈥檚 on them, they mean it.
The Cancer Fundraising Confidential Counselling program is their newest fundraising effort, following a handful of initiatives, including the Clover Valley Beer Festival and the annual music festival Gone Country.
The brothers lost their mother to breast-cancer and have been raising funds and helping people through their own cancer journeys since.
鈥淲e were at the wrap-up barbecue for Gone Country at the end of the summer and after giving each of the recipients the money that we had set out to raise, we found that we had $80,000 leftover,鈥� Jamie explained.
Suggested by friends and co-workers Sarah and Ryan Neufeld 鈥� who lost their brother Russ to the disease 鈥� the Ruscheinskis joined forces with their campaign, #runtheneuf, to help people in a whole new way.
With therapy sessions often starting at $140, counselling is often out of reach for many people who can鈥檛 afford the cost.
Jamie said after the idea of covering counselling costs was suggested, everything took off from there.
鈥淭here is a lack of support for people after going through the cancer battle,鈥� Jamie said. 鈥淲e thought it was a great idea and got five counsellors on board.鈥�
Tamara Vaags of ThriveLife Counselling 7 Wellness, is one of those five counsellors. She said the heartbreak and exhaustion of cancer battles and gestures like these effect everyone in the community.
鈥淐ancer can hit like a tsunami. It can leave those it touches feeling overwhelmed with the powerful emotions and challenges a cancer diagnosis brings,鈥� Vaags said. 鈥淐ounselling brings someone into the circle of support who can act as an anchor - holding space and being a calm, warm guide in the midst of the turmoil. The ripples of that healing journey can strengthen the resilience of the individual, their family and even ripple out to the community.鈥�
READ MORE: Fighting cancer with beer
Anyone who is going through cancer, survived cancer, or lost someone to cancer is invited to attend free counselling sessions.
The bill is then sent anonymously to the Ruscheinski brothers, who will cover the cost.
All anyone interested in accessing the service has to do is start by contacting one of the five counsellors by phone, email, or web intake to set up an appointment.
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 have to come through us or have worked with us 鈥� anybody who has been affected, seek treatment please,鈥� Jamie said, stating all people have to do is reference the Ruscheinski Brothers to become part of the program.
Ruscheinski also stressed that the counseling 100 per cent free and confidential.
鈥淚t鈥檚 billed to us as a number. All we鈥檒l be in contact with the counsellors for is to track how well it鈥檚 going with the amount of people using the program,鈥� he said.
The service only launched three weeks ago, but Jamie said each counsellor already has three or four people receiving support through their bill-covering program.
Sessions are one hour long and people have the ability to go for six sessions 鈥� though certain circumstances deemed exceptional by the councillor could merit more.
Multiple people or entire families are welcome to attend a single session too.
Jamie added that if enough people access the service and counsellors feel people are being helped, the program will continue.
鈥淔or as long as Gone Country keeps going in the years ahead, so to will the counseling,鈥� he assured.
People can find out more, including listings for the counsellors who are working with the Ruscheinski鈥檚 program, by visiting .
Counsellors are based in both 91原创 and Surrey.
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Email: ryan.uytdewilligen@langleyadvancetimes.com
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