A young boy and his family will be getting a helping hand in the form of some much needed financial support after the community of Fort St. James came together to raise some money.
Skyler Barfoot, the four year old boy from Fort St. James, was the beneficiary of a community organized spaghetti dinner fundraiser and silent auction that raised $5,255 for the little boys medical care.
The spaghetti dinner and auction was organized by Kristi Howell as well as numerous other community members who want to help Skylar and the Barfoot family.
Over 50 people and groups donated items, ranging from a flat screen television to a helicopter tour ride, to the silent auction with bids coming in at more than the $300 mark.
For just $10 per person and 5$ kids, hundreds of people came and went during the course of the evening showing just how important this little boy is to the community.
Skyler is currently in care at a Vancouver medical centre for what doctors believe may be cancer but could be something else.
Initially, Skyler was brought into the Fort St. James hospital for appeared to be cold and flu symptoms but when the symptoms did not improve the Barfoot family took Skylar to the hospital a second time.
During Skylar’s second visit to the hospital doctors ran a series of tests on him and found that the boy had an abnormally low amount of red blood cells. Doctors recommended that Skylar be transferred to Vancouver for further testing as well as more comprehensive care.
Tests performed in Vancouver revealed that the symptoms Skylar was presenting resembled cancer and subsequently the little boy underwent a slew of procedures and tests including a bone-marrow biopsy and chemotherapy.
At the present time it is not know whether or not Skylar has cancer or another illness, due in part to the fact that the boys blood cells are testing only 40 per cent abnormal, which would suggest that it is not leukaemia as those with leukaemia typically have an abnormal cell rate of 80 to 90 per cent.
In attendance were people from all areas of the community including councillor Dave Birdi, EMS Paramedics, Nak’azdli Elders, artists, relatives and friends as well as those who simply wanted to show their support for a family in need.
Live performances from the Syaz Yaz Drummers and local country music act Sam Holden (whose set was sadly interrupted due to technical difficulties) were also part of the fundraiser.