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Home Team wins big for PoCo family

When Louise Henwood was diagnosed with terminal cancer, her first thoughts were of her two children, Sam and Annie Bridge.

When Louise Henwood was diagnosed with terminal cancer, her first thoughts were of her two children, Sam and Annie Bridge.

While both kids are in their early 20s and old enough to take care of themselves, Louise feared they would not be able to look after the family home, which was in desperate need of repairs.

How would they manage and where would they live?

"It is absolutely devastating to have to tell your children something like that," she said. "It was just so devastating for the kids."

So when Henwood's neighbours chose her for the annual Home Team Challenge, she was elated. Earlier this week she was moved to a nearby hotel room and volunteer crews and local contractors converged on the home to give it the necessary upgrades. Both Sam, 21, and Annie, 23, helped out with the project, learning vital skills and maintenance work that will help them when they have to look after the house on their own.

When Henwood returned on Wednesday to see the final product, the Port Coquitlam mother said she could not believe the transformation.

Henwood learned she had cancer only month after her husband, Steven Bridge, passed away from the disease in November 2010. She said knowing her kids will have a well-built home is reassuring for her as she deals with the ramifications of her illness.

"It gives me so much peace of mind," she said. "The kids will have something they can hang on to. They don't have to be split up."

Each year the Home Team finds a Port Coquitlam family in need, and pitches-in by renovating their home. The family, or in this case a family member, is sent away for a few days while crews go to work on the residence. When the family returns for the "reveal," the house is completely renovated.

At Henwood's Western Drive residence, a new furnace was installed and the windows were upgraded, giving the once draughty home a proper heating system. The exterior was completely re-done and an unfinished basement was completed. Some electrical work was also done and the garage was rebuilt.

Russ McCann, the project co-ordinator and Home Team volunteer, said he was amazed at how many people came out to support the initiative. The economy has made things difficult for people in the building trades but he said he had no trouble finding local contractors and businesses to donate their time and products to the renovation.

"A lot of businesses in the community are having a tough year but most are just saying 'Oh well,'" said McCann, who organizes the event through the Cornerstone Seventh-day Adventist Church in Coquitlam. "When it comes right down to it I am always amazed at how willing people are to chip in, even if they are having a tough time."

A day after seeing her new home, Henwood told The Tri-City News she is still shocked at the difference. She always knew she had good friends and neighbours, but said there were no words to describe how she felt about the work that was done.

"It was absolutely amazing what they did," she said. "I was overwhelmed at how happy the people were to do it. They can't wait to go on to the next one."

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