Local residents pull together for Irma family
In seven days, two friends from Irma organized an online auction which raised over $64,000 for two-year-old Cheyenne Zwicker of Irma, who is battling cancer.
Barb Glasgow and Rheann Crawford decided just a couple of weeks ago that they would spearhead a fundraising campaign to help Cheyenne’s parents seek alternative treatment for their baby girl, “Or just use any money raised to help the family spend as much time together without the worry of how to pay everyday bills,” Glasgow said.
“Rheann and I were talking awhile back, and we just decided we should get this campaign rolling, so we did.”
She said they knew the community of Irma would step up and help, but neither of the friends were ready for the outpouring of support they received from the surrounding communities, including Flagstaff.
“So, we asked for donations for a website auction and items just poured in… everything from windbreakers for cattle to tupperware.
“The response was unreal. Donations of items came from Irma, Hardisty, Wainwright, Sedgewick, Viking, Kinsella, Camrose, and far beyond.
“It was overwhelming.”
The auction ran for just one week, she said.
“We opened the bidding on Monday, April 7 and we closed it this past Monday, April 14, and as of right now we have raised over $64,000.
“We haven’t tallied everything, so that total will change, and that amount does not include money raised by a bake sale the Irma School hosted, or the dollars being donated through a bank account set up at the Royal Bank in Wainwright,” Glasgow explained.
The two friends posted the following message on Facebook: “This is Cheyenne Zwicker’s story. This beautiful two-year-old was diagnosed with Stage four pediatric cancer.
“Cheyenne has gone through six chemo treatments and it’s not working.
“One of the options is to go to California for treatments, but it will cost the family $29,000 just for the treatment; that’s not flights and hotels.
“The family of Cheyenne does not have that kind of money. I am setting up a online auction in hopes to raise some money for Cheyenne and her family.
“I have been going around to local businesses asking for donations and the results have been amazing.
“But I don’t want to stop there, so what I’m asking is that anyone who can help in anyway…. I will take any type of donation, I will also come pick it up.
“If all else fails please share, share, share. Also, I’m asking people to please add themselves to the auction site right now. I have all the info up about the auction but no pictures of the items.“
Cheyenne is the daughter of Mandy and Robbie Zwicker, a couple from Nova Scotia who moved to Irma just over a year ago seeking better employment.
Cheyenne’s parents are overwhelmed by the out-pouring of kindness, and wrote the following note to thank everyone, “We moved from Nova Scotia to Alberta in October 2012 in search of better employment so we could always be able to offer our daughter Cheyenne the best life has to offer. “We were in Irma for a year when Cheyenne developed a lump in her abdomen.
“She had an ultrasound the day after and was quickly sent to the Stollery Childrens’ Hospital.
“Little did we know that a CT scan on Oct. 7, 2012 would change our lives forever.
“She was diagnosed with neuroblastoma. Ever since that dreadful day in October we have been living between the hospital, Ronald McDonald House, and hotels.
“Barb Glasgow and Rheann Crawford asked if they could put on an auction page on Facebook in hopes of raising some funds to help us with treatment and living expenses.
“That is where it all began, people were bidding on these wonderful donations as quickly as they were being posted.
“It is truly amazing to see how Irma and surrounding areas all pulled together and raised this amount in one week.
“We truly thank everyone who got involved and donated and it’s all because of the generosity of everyone who reached out to help Cheyenne. Thank you everyone!”
Mandy Zwicker says the funds raised have taken a huge burden from her and her husband, enabling them to spend precious time with their daughter without having to wonder how day-to-day bills will be met.
Following the diagnosis, Cheyenne was at the Stollery receiving treatment. Her parents have been offered a choice between palliative care or a continuation of chemo, which they were reportedly told would have a very low likelihood of success.
The Zwickers chose to bring their little girl home.
Since that time, they have investigated the treatment in the United States and are not optimistic about that option. The family has also been in contact with Sick Childrens’ Hospital in Toronto, and may take Cheyenne to see doctors there.
They say they are going to keep searching for medical treatment for their daughter, and while they do, the community of Irma has shown it will stand ready to offer whatever assistance it can.
According to the American Cancer Society, Neuroblastoma is a type of cancer that starts in certain very early forms of nerve cells found in an embryo or fetus. (The term neuro refers to nerves, while blastoma refers to a cancer that affects immature or developing cells). This type of cancer occurs most often in infants and young children.
Anyone wishing to donate can do so through the Royal Bank in Wainwright, can send via e-transfer directly to: cheyenneandfamily@gmail.com, or mail to Robbie and Mandy Zwicker, Box 44, Irma T0B 2H0.
Lorraine Poulsen
