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‘Healing Della’ fund-raiser set for inspirational local woman

By Staff | Sep 27, 2010

Many small business owners have been forced to decide whether to put money back in their business, or pay what can be exorbitant health care premiums for themselves.
That was a decision faced by local resident Della White and her husband Roy when they started their own business.
Then, while they were discussing which health plan to join, Della was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Now, they are paying for treatments that can be more than exorbitant.
But local friends and in particular one networking and one non-profit group are sponsoring a “Healing Della” fund-raiser on Thursday, Oct. 7, at Wine & Roses Italian Restaurant in Cape Coral to help pay for her treatments.
The Bridge Networking Group and Woman’s Life Chapter 701 are sponsoring the event, and the first $500 raised will be matched by Woman’s Life.
“Della is an inspiration,” said The Bridge Networking Group’s Michelle Andre. “She was a teacher and now works with environmental issues.”
She’s also an extremely positive individual, despite her illness, Andre said.
The two met five years ago through a networking event, and have been friends since.
“There are a lot of causes we could raise funds for, but why not do it for a friend of many in the local area?” she asked.
White is known for supporting many groups, events and fund-raisers herself throughout the community for many years. She is also a very vibrant woman and is open about her cancer experience. She also shared her background.
A North Fort Myers resident, she and her husband moved to Southwest Florida in 1985.
“I was an elementary school teacher in Illinois, where my husband and I met,” said White. She’s also done missionary work at one time in her life, and then she and husband started the local Environmental Services Group, based in North Fort Myers.
They are indoor environmental specialists, that do mold removal and more, and treat the whole indoor environment. She also trains other like specialists.
After her diagnosis, she said she did a lot of soul searching.
“I believe everything we do, we eat, we drink has something to do with our health,” she said. “After finding the tumor I had in April, it was important to me to help people to be aware and educate themselves concerning their health and their bodies — the environment they live in.”
She said she has met many who share her diagnosis.
“It is a sisterhood no one wants to belong to, but still a sisterhood. I have educated myself so much after the diagnosis and I want people to know this is not the end. They need to make informed decisions on what they want to do next after this type of diagnosis.”
Faith and more have helped her through this point in her treatments.
“My faith, my family and my friends are it,” she said. “You need to surround yourself with them. I also hope, from anyone who reads this article, to get a past due exam, eat right and exercise. I’m encouraging people to do that.”
The event has already drawn many great auction items, which include two tickets for the Key West Express, a three-night stay at TradeWinds Sandpiper Hotel & Suites, a $200 gas card, an iPod shuffle, sapphire and white gold earrings, an oriental rug and acupuncture treatments.
The event will be held from 5 to 7 p.m., with a dinner, open networking, raffle and auction. Admission and a buffet dinner are free, sponsored and paid for by Linda Worsham of Tahitian Noni International Inc. Another major sponsor is All U Need Pest Control.
The Bridge Networking group has many North Fort Myers and Cape Coral members. Andre said they have recently combined the groups, to be one central group that meets monthly at Royal Palm Yacht Club.
“It’s central to both areas,” she said.
The next Central Fort Myers Bridge Networking Lunch is Thursday, Sept. 30.
Wine & Roses Italian Restaurant is located at 1404 Cape Coral Parkway in Cape Coral. No RSVP required. For information, TheBridgeNetworking.com or call 225-5019.