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New foundation hopes to raise funds for cancer patients in Fort St. John

The Pink Ribbon Breast Cancer Foundation of Fort St. John has only been around for a few months, yet members hope the fundraiser they are holding this Saturday will be the start of something big.

The Pink Ribbon Breast Cancer Foundation of Fort St. John has only been around for a few months, yet members hope the fundraiser they are holding this Saturday will be the start of something big.

The funds they raise will go towards reducing the financial impact on local people diagnosed and living with all types of cancer.

"From a patient's point of view, a financial burden is the last thing you want to have when you are going through cancer," said Billy Reimer, the foundation's project manager.

Reimer, who has been in remission from leukemia since 2007, decided with friend Wendy Pollock, that a cancer diagnosis was bad enough without the financial stress on top of it.

"Pretty much we are just two cancer patients that decided we need to start helping local patients," he said. "At the time that I had my cancer, it was extremely difficult to find financial help for medical needs and bills."

Pollock is the foundation president and had a similar experience with finances when she was dealing with her breast cancer.

"When I was diagnosed with breast cancer I had to quit my job so we went from a double income down to single income," Pollock said.

A medication that would boost her white blood cell count to prepare her for chemotherapy cost almost $5,000 and was not covered by any medical plan, she said.

"We had to come up with that money on our own," she said. "I don't think a family should have to go into credit card debt or take loans out for this."

So the two set out to help, including using about $3,000 of their own funds to get the foundation going, Reimer said.

"It takes money to make money."

Funds will be distributed through an application process to the foundation with need being the main criteria.

A fundraising banquet and live auction this Saturday at the Pomeroy Hotel will be the first campaign and the foundation hopes to raise an ambitious $20,000 from the event.

"We set our standards way high," Reimer said with a laugh. "Even if we can get half of that for now, just to start with, that would be amazing."

Although the foundation is named for breast cancer, all cancer patients will be considered for funding and they have a young local woman in mind already.

Chelsey Chambers, a 21-year-old licensed practical nurse at the Fort St. John Hospital, was diagnosed with tongue cancer and underwent surgery last month.

Chambers was born and raised in Fort St. John and recently married her high school sweetheart Dustin and they just purchased a farm. They do not have employer health benefits.

"We are hoping that she can be one of the first people we donate to," Reimer said.

When asked what a contribution from the foundation would mean to her, Chambers paused before responding.

"It would touch me on a level that I have never been touched before and I would appreciate it more than they could ever know," she said.

"I hope one day I could return the kindness that they have shown me."

She said research fundraising is critical, but it only one of the challenges that cancer creates.

"We are a little isolated up here in the north and even though we do show our support by donating to the research, the people who are affected by it don't always get the attention that they need and the help that they deserve. I think what the foundation is doing by recognizing people in our community is really important."

Saturday's fundraising banquet and auction is at the Pomeroy Hotel and starts at 5 p.m. For more information contact Reimer at 250-262-8883.