Friends of a local firefighter facing his fourth brain tumour are asking the community to come to a benefit concert in his honour at Vanier Hall.
The fundraiser will be only two days after Rob Wiebe's surgery in Vancouver in what has been a long and emotional road toward recovery.
"He is awake and communicating," said his wife Barb on Thursday, while Rob was still in the neuroscience critical care unit.
She said he's still feeling fuzzy, which is not uncommon, but it's too early say when he'll be back in Prince George.
"It's still one step at a time with him."
In the past 15 years, Wiebe has rebounded from three brain tumours: first in 1999, then in 2005 and again in 2009. In 2012, he was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. And in late 2014, he learned the brain tumour was back.
The support from from friends and family has made a huge difference through the "scary times," Barb said. She was overwhelmed with gratitude when she first heard of the benefit for her husband.
"It made me cry," said Wiebe, tearing up again.
The benefit will feature 30 student singers, dancers and performers from Prince George Secondary School, where her son graduated and her daughter still goes to school.
On top of the tremendous emotional toll, the financial stress is an added burden. They must go through a WorkSafe B.C. claim and while she said it should be covered, it still isn't automatic.
"Financially you don't know where you're at," Barb said.
That's why Friday's benefit is so helpful, she said, knowing something will help bridge that gap.
Barb was especially grateful to Jodie Baker, a teacher who's been planning the show for a little more than a month and is a family friend.
Baker has known the family for 20 years, calling them "very brave."
"I think it would be great for [Rob's] story of perseverance to be shared."
People at PGSS really wanted to do something for the family, Baker said.
"I feel fortunate to work at a school with kids that are willing to donate their Friday evening and their time and talent to a good cause," she said. "The kids have put a lot of work into their performances, it'll be really high quality and not long."
She said she expects an audience of more than 100, but the hall holds 800, so she's hoping for more.
"The more the merrier," said Baker, adding the community has rallied in response to the event.
"It's just spread like crazy. I've been flooded with emails and phone calls of how people can help, [there's] just respect for the family and desire to do something.
"This community's so generous."
The concert runs from 7 to 8 p.m. Friday at Vanier Hall. Admission is by donation and all proceeds go to the Wiebe family.
