'The Rock,' Shania Twain, and the Toronto Maple Leafs support new charity
By Stefanie Masotti | CTV News | March 15, 2021
WINDSOR, ONT. -- A new nationally registered charity hopes to add joy and inspiration to terminally ill Canadians by making dreams come true.
"To bring that sense of wonderment and joy is super fulfilling,” said Michael Bennett, Oneday Dreams, co-founder, who specializes in palliative care.
The charity has been in the works for six years, granting dreams with the help of celebrities like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Shania Twain, and the Toronto Maple Leafs.
"A lot of celebrities, whether musicians, artists, or actors, a lot of them recognize they got to where they are because they have a fan base,” said Jason Soulliere, Oneday Dream, co-founder. “When you bring a moment to them of someone who is struggling and in the moment of the struggle, the most important thing they can think of has something to do with that artist. I think that's why we are getting instant response."
"The joy he got it's hard to describe," said Michael Dudar, the father of Christopher Dudar, who’s dream came true just months before he died following a brain tumor diagnoses.
He received tickets to a Toronto Blue Jays game and mingled with the team during batting practice.
"It was an experience, and one that Christopher remembered for the rest of his short life," said Dudar.
To apply, you must be Canadian, 18-years-old or older, diagnosed with a terminal illness and have one year or less to live.
At the bottom of the article there are some pictures and there is a comment mentioning Shania’s new album:
Michael Alessio, a big Shania Twain fan, was able to get a sneak preview of her new album and a personalized message from the singer. (courtesy Oneday Dreams)
At the bottom of the article there are some pictures and there is a comment mentioning Shania’s new album:
The article was referring to Shania's NOW album.
New charity aims to fulfil dreams of terminally ill adults
By Mary Caton | Windsor Star | March 19, 2021
As a palliative care social worker, Mike Bennett strives to know so much more about an individual than just the grim realities of a terminal diagnosis.
“It’s important to get beyond the diagnosis,” Bennett said. “To learn about the person and less about what they’re coping with. To find out what brings them joy, what brings meaning to their life.”
From that inspiration, Bennett and long-time friend Jason Soulliere have created a charity to give adults with a terminal illness a cherished dream that brings some joy and comfort.
Oneday Dreams is a nationally registered charity looking to provide a special memory for anyone 18 years and over with a life expectancy of one year or less.
Soulliere and Bennett have fulfilled several pilot dreams as they’ve ramped up to the charity’s official launch this spring.
They plan to start taking dream applications in either April or May.
Bennett first put thought into action in 2014 when he was working with a young cancer patient upset that he wouldn’t live long enough to get his master’s degree. Bennett reached out to the University of Windsor and they helped make a full graduation ceremony happen at Windsor Hospice.
“It meant more to him and his family than anything,” Bennett said. “That’s when I realized the kind of help we could do.”
Then there was the DJ who wanted to perform one more set before he died and the young woman who was a huge fan of the Canadian rock band Marianas Trench.
Bennett and Soulliere knew each other through connections with the local Windsor music community so Bennett asked his friend for help connecting with the band.
Soulliere asked the band’s manager about the possibility of a Skype call with the woman but the band upped the offer to a personal concert.
The woman died the day before the concert, a devastating blow for all.
The band asked for her photo and shared her story on social media and the woman’s family was in awe of the support and love that poured in from complete strangers.
After that, Soulliere was committed to doing more. He helped out again when Bennett was working with a big Shania Twain fan.
“In the palliative care areas there’s not a lot of resources out there for adults to have an experience or a positive day,” Bennett said.
Twain had a new album due out and after Soulliere reached out, her record label sent the man an exclusive, advance copy along with a personal note from Twain.
The duo managed to get actor/wrestler Dwayne Johnson to send a video message to a Windsor woman battling lung cancer and they facilitated visits to a Toronto Maple Leafs game and a Toronto Blue Jays game.
“Those were the things that really started it all,” Soulliere said. “We launched a couple of weeks ago and now we’re raising awareness that this exists and we’re raising donations for the dreams. We want to have a good foundation, and when you’re starting that’s the first big hurdle.”
The charity has already received in-kind support with a friend in Scotland designing the website and a local media company handling the promotional videos.
“It’s unbelievable how much people believe in this and want to help,” Bennett said.
Soulliere estimates it will cost the charity approximately $3,000 for each dream granted.
“It doesn’t have to be something big,” Soulliere said. “The dream could be something small like an anniversary dinner at a favourite restaurant or a bass fishing trip with your brother. It’s what’s important to the person.”
The charity is not limited to those in hospice care. The plan is to reach out to other care providers such as the cancer clinic, nurse practitioners clinics and family care centres. It’s starting with a focus on the Windsor-Essex region but there are plans to expand provincially and eventually nationally.
“It’s a bittersweet concept,” Bennett said. “But Jason and I are in the quality-of-life business.”
Michael's dream was to be able to listen to Shania’s upcoming album, but he was not expected to make it to the release date. Shania and her team came through for Micheal with a private listening session of "NOW" and a personal message from the Queen of Country herself!