Benefit planned for cancer victim receiving treatment in the U.S.
BIBLE HILL, N. S. – A benefit dance is being held Saturday at the Truro Horsemen’s Club in support of Stephen Saunders, who is battling a rare form of deadly cancer.
“It’s going to create quite an event,” organizer Johnny Taylor said.
“It’s for a good cause and I know a lot of people are going to be coming out for it.”
Saunders, 58, of Onslow Mountain has a rare and deadly progressive form of cancer called non-hodgkin lymphoma, which requires a type of treatment called CAR-T cell therapy to combat it. The treatment is not available in Canada and the closest place he can receive it is the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.
Although his medical expenses are being covered by the Nova Scotia government, Saunders still must come up with approximately $10,000 to cover travel and accommodation costs for the two to three months he will have to be in Boston.
The Horsemen’s club benefit runs from about 6 to 10 p.m. Admission is by donation.
A 50/50 draw is also planned along with other fundraising initiatives.
Taylor said anyone attending the benefit is welcome to bring a cheese or meat tray but potluck dishes cannot be accommodated because the benefit was planned too quickly to enable the club to arrange for the proper licencing of outside-prepared foods.
A Gofundme page, Send Stephen to Boston for CAR-T, has also been established.