A fundraiser for a local girl who was recently diagnosed with a rare form of cancer has eclipsed $50,000, as the community continues to support Isla Clandinin and her family.
Courtnee Dreyer, Isla’s aunt says that she simply could not believe the generosity of the community.
“It’s overwhelming, to be honest. When I put together the go fund me I was not expecting to have such an amazing response. To see how much a community came together to support my family, my sister Shanda, and my brother-in-law Lee. It’s very humbling for all of us,” she says.
Dreyer says that Isla is feeling a bit better and has been discharged from Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton as she continues her treatment program.
“She will be doing her chemotherapy as an outpatient for the foreseeable future. She was able to go home and see her cat and dog and sleep in her own bed. It definitely raised her spirits. Out of all of us, Isla is the one who is coping the best with the situation,” she says.
Isla has remained very optimistic and bright throughout the whole process to this point. Dreyer says that the generosity of the community takes much less stress out of the situation for the whole family.
“Being from Grande Prairie, they have to travel out to Edmonton at least once a week for treatment. They will be going to Florida for radiation treatment for approximately eight to nine weeks. It helps her parents focus on Isla and give her everything she needs,” she says.
Dreyer says she’s thankful to everyone that pitched in, “especially the Grande Prairie and Peace River communities.”
370 people have donated to the fundraiser, and $51,587 has been raised to date.
Isla Clandinin was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare type of cancer that forms in soft tissue just before Christmas.