Dancing with the Docs Raises Funds for a New PET Scanner
Published Monday, March 2, 2020
By Amanda Bay
For Patricia and Dr.Joseph Del Paggio, Dancing with the Docs is a family affair. The brother and sister duo, created the sold out event in loving memory of their mother Nikki, who they lost to a five-year battle with lymphoma in the summer of 2019. With a desire to honour their mother's legacy, the siblings brought together their talents, drama and medicine, to create the new event that will be held in Thunder Bay this spring.
“We knew this concept was perfect for us. Being a drama teacher with a love for theatre arts, and Joey being an oncologist with a passion for patient care. We took two parts of our lives that our mother was so proud of and brought them together to pay tribute to her and to better our community,” said Patricia Del Paggio.
Featuring eight local doctors paired with talented dancers, the fundraiser is based on the popular Dancing with the Stars competition that Patricia said her mother loved watching with all the glamour and different dance styles. All funds raised from Dancing with the Docs will support the purchase of a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanner for the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre.
“It goes without saying that cancer is a diagnosis that is fraught with trepidation, emotional distress—It's downright scary, not only for patients, but for family members who accompany them in their journey,” said Dr.Joseph Del Paggio. “When we thought back to our experience, the most stressful period was that time between diagnosis and treatment. Treatment plans require tests. A very important test for our mother, and one that is becoming increasingly more important for many patients, is a PET scan.”
The purchase of a new PET scanner is expected to provide more timely access to the test, which could positively influence a patient’s disease course and outcome. The community is encouraged to support Dancing with the Docs by donating to their favourite dance duo: www.healthsciencesfoundation.ca/donatewtd. The team who raises the most funding, will be awarded additional points towards their final score in their quest for the coveted Mirror Ball Trophy.
Participating Docs & Dancers include:
- Dr. Alyson Dykstra with Daniel Stilla
- Dr. Bradley Jacobson with Marnie Merchant
- Dr. Olga Kisselgoff with Karim Coluccio
- Dr. Mario Nucci with Maeghan Tofinetti
- Dr. Chris Francis with Harmony Appell
- Dr. Stewart Kennedy with Dr. Alea Crupi
- Dr. Gabriel Mapeso with Jacqueline Marsh
- Dr. Kathy Simpson with Jacob Gazzola