Just over a week ago, Bradford Underground Bowl opened its doors to host “Bowling for Daleyn”, a fundraiser in support of Daleyn MacIsaac, a local teen who has been diagnosed with ANCA vasculitis.
Daleyn’s illness is forcing her to endure near daily trips to Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto for life saving dialysis treatments until her doctors can bring the disease into remission and allow her to get her name on the kidney transplant list.
Daleyn’s parents, Minerva and Dale MacIsaac, are doing everything they can to help their daughter, but these trips are quite costly.
With Dale being off work due to his own medical issues and Minerva only earning income from her small home-based business, Minerva’s Creations, it wasn’t long before a close family friend realized that they needed help.
That friend is Cassidy Hilliard, a local entrepreneur, mother of one of Daleyn’s close friends and all-round good human.
With the help of another local mom and experienced event planner, Rosi Martin, the generosity of Christina Dalessandro of Bradford Underground Bowl and Minerva’s own efforts to entertain the crowds with balloons, bubbles and face painting from her small business, Bowling for Daleyn became a reality.
Funds were raised through lane sponsorships, admission tickets, raffles and a silent auction.
With the fundraiser behind them and the money all counted, Hilliard met with the MacIsaac family to present them with the donations from that event, a total of just over $5,000.
“What’s happening with Daleyn just devastated us,” said Dale.
“I just want to thank everybody who organized this. Especially Cassidy (Hilliard) and Christina (Dalessandro, Owner of Bradford Underground Bowl) for having us here.”
“Thank you very much. Thank you so much,” added Minerva.
In addition to the cheque from the proceeds of the Bowling for Daleyn fundraiser, Hilliard had another announcement up her sleeve for the MacIsaac family as she introduced longtime Bradford resident and business owner, Sandy Hudson.
“My husband and I were away, when I saw the story on BradfordToday about the fundraiser. I couldn’t be here for it, but when we got home, my husband and I wanted to give a gift to Minerva’s family,” said Hudson, before handing a cheque to Minerva and Dale, requesting that the amount remain undisclosed.
Along with these two presentations of the generosity of a community came the sighs of relief and hugs for all, knowing some of the financial stress of dealing with ANCA Vasculitis has been put at ease for the holidays.
ANCA Vasculitis has no cure and Daleyn’s current treatments are focused on putting the disease into remission so that doctors can get her onto the kidney transplant list, a surgery that will improve her quality of life for years to come.
With no end in sight, the MacIsaac family has set up a Go Fund Me account to help with the costs of Daleyn’s treatments.
If you wish to make a donation, please click here.
