About $5,200 has been raised via the Boob Tour comedy show for Olds resident Bonnie Supernant, who suffers from bladder cancer.
Supernant, who runs Divine Crystals, a place that specializes in reiki, meditation and readings, has been battling the potentially fatal disease for about a year-and-a-half. (Reiki is a Japanese technique to reduce stress as well as promote relaxation and healing).
"I've never been to a comedy show before, so I didn't know what to expect. But it was good, lots of people were laughing, so it was good," she says.
The April 7 event, featuring Calgary-based comedians Matt Foster, Kelsey Funk and Andrew Albert, attracted about 115 people and raised about $5,000.
"Everything went absolutely fantastic. We couldn't have asked for a better night. We were completely packed," says Boston Pizza community relations coordinator Leah Soriat.
She notes in addition to the $5,000 raised, Albert, who headlined the show, provided Supernant with another $200 -- half the proceeds from the sale of CDs and download codes to his latest comedy album at the end of the night.
Several members of Supernant's family also attended.
Soriat was pleased and impressed with how much money was raised.
"Usually we aim for at least a couple of thousand dollars. We've had years in the past where we've done a full-on auction where we've had members of the community donate items just for that little bit of extra raised money," she says.
This year, organizers also held a raffle. Boston Pizza donated a 49-inch TV and an espresso machine. Supernant's family and friends also donated some items. That raised $800 of the $5,000 figure.
Supernant used to be a Boston Pizza employee. She had a good chat with owners of the local franchise.
She has had quite a battle with bladder cancer.
"I've had four surgeries already," Supernant says. "I have high-grade cancer, so mine comes back so quick, so fast. And then through the layers of the bladder. We're just trying to stay on top of it, because soon as it goes back into there I could lose my bladder. And then, once it's out, too, it can spread right through."
Supernant completed another segment of treatment about two weeks ago. She's scheduled for a checkup May 7 to see if that worked.
She remembers how the disease manifested itself.
"I wasn't feeling good," she says. "I couldn't walk, I couldn't sit. I couldn't go to the bathroom."
She takes several treatments to combat the disease.
Supernant admits the battle with the disease takes a toll on her.
"I have my moments, but then I'm just like, 'no, I've got to keep on going,'" she says.
Supernant says the tasks she undertakes in her business, combined with help from others, helps her cope.
"If I'm doing reiki on somebody and that energy's channelling through me, I feel a lot better too," she says. "A lady comes in and does massage for me and other people do reiki on me, so I feel like I feel a lot better; it feels a lot more positive that way. It just takes my mind off of that."
She says working with crytals and meditation have also helped.
"Meditation has been a big help through all of this," Supernant says. "If there are days when I don't meditate, I feel like I'm going down. It just picks me up."
Supernant says bladder cancer is much more prevalant than people may think.
"It's pretty common," she says. "I didn't think it was, but I guess it's pretty common. Lots of young kids -- even my doctor says they see young kids with bladder cancer. All different ages."
