CANMORE – “Going through a cancer illness does not come cheap, even in a country with free health care,” writes Tracy Jacobson on her blog.
The energetic and community-minded 45-year-old Canmore resident – who in 2017 travelled to Sierra Leone with three Canmore nurses to make a documentary about their efforts to establish a birthing clinic in the West African country - was diagnosed with stage IV colorectal and thyroid cancer in January. Since then, she has undergone 10 rounds of chemo, and will soon embark on radiation therapy – in conjunction with more chemo – in advance of surgery scheduled early in the new year.
And while she knows she needs support from others to pay for her treatments, she knows she is not alone.
With that in mind, Jacobson has planned a fundraiser to take place this Saturday, Oct. 20 at Fusebox Coworking Studio, located at 1205 Bow Valley Trail in Canmore.
The event will include silent and live auction, snacks, cash bar and beginner salsa dance lessons followed by dancing for all. Money raised will be shared between Jacobson and the family of a friend whose two-year-old granddaughter Lennon also has cancer.
“I thought - actually needed - to do the fundraiser for myself first and foremost as I head into radiation and more treatments before multiple surgeries,” Jacobson said.
“I used up my funds this far in all of my treatments. I don’t want to strain over finances when I’m not able to work.”
“Also, I wanted to try and help other families/people going through this and who are needing some assistance.”
Learning that Tenille, Lennon’s mother, had to return to work while her toddler daughter undergoes treatments broke her heart, Jacobson said. A portion of the funds raised will go to Lennon’s mother so she can take some days off to be with her daughter.
“Lennon must now attend daycare in order for her mother, Tenille, to return to work,” Jacobson said.
“This will be a gamble with Lennon’s immunity compromised. I would like to help out so that Tenille can be at home with Lennon in her mother’s arms and receive the TLC she needs.”
The rest of the money will help Jacobson cover the cost of health supplements, gas to drive to Calgary and back and other expenses to get her through the next six to eight months, including hyperthermia treatments that use heat to destroy cancer cells and shrink tumours, which have been very effective for her thus far.
“I can’t imagine going through this cancer journey without this immunity support, and there are a lot of people who either don’t know about it or can’t afford it,” Jacobson said. “When I get through this and can work again I want to continue the Cancer Warrior platform to help others out on this journey.”
To learn more or to donate visit her GoFundMe page.
