Cranbrook resident Geneva Atwood has every intention of beating the stage IV breast cancer she is living with, and with friends like Kaylee Fisher-Gibb and Ricki Andrews on her side in Castlegar, things are looking up.
"I've only known her for two years," said Andrews, who was reached by telephone the day prior to fundraising efforts to be held this weekend. "Kaylee has known her for four. We're really good friends with her mother — that's how we met."
"They're doing everything for her they can," said Andrews. "She has gone to Kelowna for radiation and has most recently gone to Vancouver for stereotactic radiation, which is a lot stronger. Prior to that, she went down to a special treatment centre in Reno, that you pay for out-of-pocket to get them to analyze your blood and your specific cancer and determine the best kinds of treatment and which chemo medications will be the best."
Andrews said the treatment in Reno alone was around $30,000 — plus medications, travel expenses and missing time from work for Atwood's husband, Ken.
Andrews and Gibb have already raised about $4,300 and have pledged to shave their heads when another $5,900 comes in.
On Friday, March 29 from 2 p.m. until dark and again on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. a combination garage sale, bake sale and raffle will be happening at Andrews' home located at 3808 5th Avenue (Twin River Estates) in Castlegar.
"We've been contacting people we know and putting ads out asking for garage sale donations," said Andrews. "We had a barbecue at Canadian Tire last weekend and had huge support from the community. We raised $1,300 doing that."
Kaylee has also been doing free haircuts with donations going to the support Atwood's fight against cancer.
If you can't make it out to the garage sale and would like to donate money or buy tickets for a raffle that is being organized, you can leave your name and telephone number next to your donation on this webpage: www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/Fight-Like-a-Girl-That-is-Fight-Like-Geneva-Atwood-/46062
Raffle prizes have been donated by: Tim Hortons, The Alpine Grind, Nealy O'Briens Pub and Liquor Store, Mother Natures, Curves, Central City Shoes, Royal Theatre, Redstone Resort, Sandman, Canadian Tire, and Thrums Greenhouse.
Draws will take place next week.
Though Atwood could not be reached before this story was published, here is an excerpt from a blog post titled, "Our hearts are full" that she posted March 17, 2013:
"Ken and I are, yet again, amazed by the generosity and love towards our family. We realize that many of you have already donated to our family, monetarily and in other ways, the outpouring of love and generosity is nothing less than amazing.
We want to thank all who have given so much to us. We wish there were more eloquent words to say thank you but we haven't found any yet. We are forever thankful and pray daily that the Lord's blessings be poured out upon each and everyone of you for your charity."