An Okotoks resident being treated for cancer has been overwhelmed to the response from the community.

A GoFundMe page started for 19-year-old Brayden McFarlane has already accumulated over $55,000 in donations after just over a month.

McFarlane says his relationship with the hockey community has really shined through during this time.

"I've had coaches that I haven't talked to in years hitting me up and talking to me. I played hockey in Rocky Mountain House near Red Deer last year, and they're doing a bunch of stuff for me, and talking to my coaches around Okotoks, they're doing stuff for me. It's honestly crazy."

Brayden finished his first cycle of treatment at the end of August, and is set to begin his second is set to begin near the end of this month.

He says the funds will go a long way to account for the many expenses associated with the treatment that were originally unaccounted for.

"My white blood cells, the way they dipped after my first treatment, now after every chemo treatment I have to take an immune injection after each treatment. One dose is like $1600. I'm on medical marijuana, CBD, and CBG as well, it adds up like crazy."

His form of cancer, Sarcoma, is extremely rare, with Brayden being one of 450 people ever to be diagnosed.

Travel expenses are among the possible uses for the funds, though he says the likelihood of clinical trials to specifically treat Sarcoma is lower than other forms.

"As of 2019, I'm one of 450 people to ever be known to have it, so there are not a lot of trials for it, per se. The treatment I'm getting in Calgary is the gold standard, it's what they would do everywhere."

Remaining funds that aren't used for Brayden's treatment cancer research and Sarcoma studies.

To view the fundraiser page, click here.

 

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