A Turner Valley woman battling Stage 3 cancer can concentrate solely on beating the disease after her community is stepping in to take care of her finances.
Friends of 45-year-old Mandy Gentry set up an account at ATB Financial and gofundme, and are organizing a cancer walk and Halloween party, to raise money to cover the mother of three’s day-to-day expenses as she undergoes chemotherapy treatments, surgery and radiation. In September, Gentry was diagnosed with a different type of cancer in each breast, which has spread to her lymph nodes.
“She’s not going to have to worry about money,” said friend Tammy Arden. “It will take the financial burden off so she can concentrate on her health.”
Arden, a housekeeper at the High Country Lodge where Gentry used to work as a cook, is organizing a fundraising walk that begins at Oilfields High School Oct. 26 at 11 a.m. and works its way up the Friendship Trail and back. Diamond Valley Taxi will pick up anyone unable to walk the whole way at no cost.
“I just want to show Mandy that we’re all behind her,” said Arden. “She’s the first one who would start something like this for someone else. I thought we have to do something.”
The following week, Turner Valley’s Woodstock Hotel will host a costume party Nov. 1 to raise money for Gentry, with tickets costing $10 in advance and $15 at the door. The event will include entertainment by local cover band Billionaire Philanthropists, a silent auction and a 50/50 draw.
“Everybody is stepping up to help them out,” said Melonie McKee, one of the organizers. “As a community we’re trying to support her by bringing her meals, keeping her company and checking up on her. She doesn’t have to worry about that day-to-day stuff like paying bills and grocery shopping.”
McKee, who said she’s known Gentry for 14 years, was shocked by her friend’s diagnosis.
“It’s Stage 3 cancer so it’s pretty scary,” she said. “She’s getting one type of chemo for the first round and a different chemo for the second round to try to battle them both.”
Gentry, who was diagnosed in early September, said she’s overwhelmed by the community support.
“People that I grew up with here that don’t even live here anymore have sent little messages and donated to my gofundme page,” she said. “I've had these names that I haven’t heard in so many years come back to me that you forget were a part of your life.”
Gentry's gofundme page has reached $6,000 of the $50,000 goal as of Monday.
“It's really put us in a place where we don’t have to worry quite so much about bills coming and payments that have to be made,” Gentry said. “It’s a huge relief. We can just focus on us.”
Since her diagnosis, Gentry’s husband Nigel quit his job up north and found a new one closer to home to help with Gentry’s care.
Today, the family’s freezer remains full of food brought over by thoughtful friends, neighbours and family members.
“I want to thank everyone for everything they have done for us and how much it means to me to know there’s people out there that are just willing to support my family and bring food to my house,” she said. “It’s overwhelming and just extraordinary.”
Also lending a hand is Shelby Sutherland, owner of WestLine Creations in Black Diamond, whose selling fight cancer t-shirts with saying like “Save the Boobies” for $25 each. All proceeds go to the Gentry family.
