Hope for Hannah

Hannah Brown survived a kidney cancer diagnosis at four years old,

Now the 13-year-old local girl is facing a rare and terminal neurodegenerative disease.

To help Brown’s family, there’s a fundraiser called Hope for Hannah on Saturday at Heartbreakers. It’s an ’80s-themed dance party featuring Audio Union, a local band that’s donating their talent during the event.

It all started when Jim McGraw, who is a regular customer at Grama’s Kitchen, started chatting with the manager, Sandra Aalten, who is Hannah’s grandmother.

The conversation turned to McGraw’s desire to host fundraisers to help local charities. That’s when Sandra mentioned her granddaughter and how they needed help to make the necessary renovations so Hannah can stay in her family home.

McGraw then reached out to friend and musician Micah Green to see if they could put on the fundraiser together.

“Right now Hannah uses a walker to get around and because what she has is a neurodegenerative disease she will lose more and more functionality and motor skills and she’ll eventually be confined to a wheelchair so we’re trying to raise funds to make some adjustments to her house to make it more ac- cessible so she can continue to live there,” said Green.

As Hannah’s grandmother, Aalten said she’s overwhelmed with the response from the community already.

“I think it’s awesome,” said Aalten. “The fact that they would do this and give the money to a child they’ve never even met is incredible.”

Hannah will be in surgery Friday so won’t be able to attend the event but other family members will be there.

Aalten said that as a family they have decided to celebrate Hannah’s life and not grieve over the prognosis.

“We’ve decided we’re not going to be sad right now,” said Aalten.

“There will be lots of time to be sad later. So right now it’s about making every day count and making the best memories we can. So that’s what we’re doing.”

Aalten wants to thank all the people involved.

“The time and effort everyone is putting into this event is just incredible,” said Aalten.

“I want to thank everyone for what they’re doing for my granddaughter.”

Hope for Hannah starts at 9 p.m. at Heartbreakers, 1192 Fifth Ave., Audio Union starts at 10 p.m.

There will be prizes for best costumes, a silent auction and 50/50 draw, with proceeds going to the Hope for Hannah fund.

Tickets are $20 at Extreme Kids at Pine Centre Mall and Grandma’s Inn, 901 Central St. West.