When Bradford teen, Daleyn MacIsaac became ill, friends, family and neighbours rallied around her to help any way they could.
Daleyn’s illness, ANCA vasculitis, 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.
For Daleyn’s family, the financial cost of these treatments is a significant burden.
Her father, Dale, is off work due to his own medical issues and her mother, Minerva has had to scale back her small home-based business, Minerva’s Creations, to focus on the health of her family.
Local entrepreneur and family friend, Cassidy Hilliard has known the MacIsaac family since her daughters started school with Daleyn in kindergarten.
It wasn’t long after Daleyn’s diagnosis that Hilliard realized that the MacIsaac family would need help.
With help from her “Right-Hand-Girl” and experienced fund-raiser, Rosi Martin, the two local moms soon had a plan.
It wasn’t long before Christina Dalessandro owner of Bradford Underground Bowl offered the space to host an event that would raise the much-needed funds to help Daleyn and her family.
“We just figured that with Christmas coming, she needed some extra help,” said Hilliard.
With the blessing of Daleyn’s family, the women reached out to the community and Bradford answered.
“Every single thing that has been donated tonight is from the Bradford community,” she said.
“Whether it’s from local businesses or just people from the community, they have graciously donated everything that’s here,” Hilliard said of the silent auction and prize items laid out on nearby tables.
So many people bought tickets to support the Bowling for Daleyn fundraiser that all 12 lanes were full, and every lane had two corporate sponsors.
As Hilliard kicked off the event and introduced the MacIsaac family, she reminisced about the small town feel of Bradford.
“I have lived in this town since the day I was born, and my family has been here for over 40 years. I have watched our town grow, but I still feel that Bradford has that small-town charm. Planning this event has shown that is true,” she said.
“A community that comes together to help one of its own. That’s my Bradford!” exclaimed Hilliard.
Even BWG Mayor Rob Keffer, Deputy Mayor James Leduc, Coun. Mark Contois, Coun. Peter Ferragine, and Coun. Ron Orr bought their tickets and did their part to help out.
“We’ve seen the effort that the community has put out for Daleyn and we thought that council should get involved,” said Deputy Mayor Leduc.
“Let’s get out and enjoy the night with the community and with Daleyn and all the people who put this huge effort together and hopefully raise some funds for Daleyn,” he said.
In addition to the funds raised through the Bowling for Daleyn event, the Bradford Fire Volunteer Association took the opportunity to give the MacIsaac family another cheque for $1,000.
“All of the public events that we do, like the boot drives, are all volunteer. The team will come out to do that and raise funds, then whatever money we raise goes right back to the community,” said Volunteer Fire Fighter Jeff Torcato.
“We watch to see what’s needed in the community so when we saw what Daleyn was going through, we decided that we would do what we could to help out,” he said.
With all the challenges facing her family, Daleyn’s mother Minerva is very grateful for all the help they have received.
“There’s a lot going on, but all I pray is ‘Don’t lose hope, there’s always a miracle’. This (fundraiser) happening right now is a miracle. People are pulling together, helping each other. They are here to support us and help us. This is why I’m saying this is a miracle. I’m so happy for this,” she said.
