powered by:
valneva canada inc.
oneday dreams fulfills last wishes for adults facing terminal illness
a relationship that began when two windsor men were nav...
jul 18 2023
3 minute read
jay soulliere and mike bennett check out the putting green at sutton creek golf club friday, july 14. souilliere and bennett run oneday dreams, which arranges to fill last wishes from people facing end of life challenges. a charity golf tournament will be held at the golf course on sept. 30 to help raise funds for oneday dreams to make those wishes come true. (brian macleod/windsor star)
jpg
a relationship that began when two windsor men were navigating the local music scene more than 15 years ago has burgeoned into a project that provides wishes for adults who are terminally ill.
talent agent jay soulliere and mike bennett, a professor of social work, pooled their know-how to launch oneday dreams in 2017 after setting up a special event for a young woman with a terminally ill diagnosis.
“even though people are at the end of their lives they’re still very much living,” bennett said. “so, everything we do is about, ‘what can we do to help people live the best quality of life that they can?’ can we play a small role in helping give them another perfect day?”
the idea for oneday dreams came about when bennett, who had experience working at the hospice, wanted to help a young woman who was a big fan of canadian rock band marianas trench.
“i learned how much that band meant to her, so i thought maybe i could do something cool,” he said. “i can reach out to my buddy (jay) who i know is in the industry and see if he could link this young lady to the band.”
a receptive soulliere, who had developed contacts in the entertainment industry, arranged for marianas trench to perform a concert for the young woman on skype.
advertisement
advertisement
tragically, the woman died the day before the concert.
“the band was moved by how much they meant to her, so they asked for a family photo and they posted on their social (media), which has hundreds of thousands of followers,” he said.
“they had just this amazing amount of outpouring of random strangers that are fans of the band wishing the family love and putting them in their thoughts and prayers.”
the experience made a lasting mark on soulliere.
“it was really for me the first time i had been part of something that was end-of-life care, to help with the grieving process or maybe even just trying to do something for someone that’s a complete stranger.”
a couple years later, bennett and soulliere worked together again to arrange for a big fan of shania twain to get an advance copy of her new album.
“he had a terminal diagnosis,” bennett said. “he probably wasn’t going to be alive when her upcoming album was going to get released, so i reached out to jay again i said: ‘hey, you helped me a few years ago with marianas trench. think we can do it again?’”
soulliere worked his contacts.
“we got a copy of her album months before it came out,” soulliere said. “he was one of the few people in the world to hear (the music before its release), and she sent him a personal note as well and so that was really special.”
advertisement
advertisement
a while later, the pair met up at caesars windsor when one of soulliere’s clients was playing there.
“mike was just telling me how, in hospice care, how difficult it can be when you’re dealing with people at the end of their life, but trying to remind them that ‘you’re still living, you’re still here with us,’” soulliere said.
“what does life have to offer? what’s the things that they always cherish in life that made them happy, their hobbies, their interests? (that) fascinated me.”
that night, the idea for oneday dreams was born.
the make-a-wish foundation provides dreams for people under 18, but oneday dreams focuses on adults. it now has a national footprint, drawing applications for dreams from all over the country.
oneday dreams arranged for a man to join the toronto blue jays on the diamond before a game and meet with the broadcasters. another had a private tour of scotiabank arena and watched a toronto maple leafs game.
the organization is now a registered charity with an experienced board of directors providing governance. and the pair put a lot of effort into earning people’s trust through events like educational sessions, bennett said.
the organization operates entirely with volunteers. no one is paid, so all the money raised goes towards making wishes happen.
advertisement
advertisement
and oneday dreams is about to organize its 50th dream.
the organization is holding a golf tournament sept. 30 at sutton creek golf club. last year, the first for the tournament, it raised $27,000. this year’s goal is $35,000.
golf tournament fundraiser
saturday, sept. 30, sutton creek golf club
scramble format
$175 per player
link to register: https://onedaydreams.ca/events/golf-2023/
share story
