Caitlyn Macauley's best friend's dad died of cancer last year, and even though she was on the outside looking in, she saw the heartbreak and hardships -- the ultimate toll the disease took on the whole family when Hank Taylor died.
Now 16-year-old Caitlyn wants to do something about it.
The singer songwriter will be hosting a benefit concert Friday at Nancy O's, 1261 Third Avenue, with proceeds going to Team Hank in the Relay For Life May 14 and 15 at Masich Place Stadium with proceeds going to support cancer research.
"I just really wanted to show my best friend Luke that I really cared about what happened and I wanted to raise money and awareness about this serious disease," said Caitlyn, a Grade 11 Kelly Road secondary school student. "Cancer can really take over a family's life and I witnessed it and I want people to know that it gets better."
Caitlyn will be dedicating a song to Hank's memory. It's a song Caitlyn wrote for her grandmother when she died of cancer. It's called Keep Standing Tall.
"Being just 16 it makes me proud to be able to do something like this - with my friends' help," she added.
Caitlyn will perform several songs during the concert and has invited other performers in the community to join her, including Dawn Boudreau, Morgan Young, Mieke Matosevic, Lydia Desrochers, Isaac Smeele and Ericka Callewaert.
"I will sing country, soulful music, pop and also duets and I'm going to be rappin'," said Caitlyn.
"There is going to be a variety of music and it's going to be a really good show."
The show starts at 7 p.m. Friday at Nancy O's. Admission is by donation.
