The Sooke community is going above and beyond to support Landen Alexa, a local child struggling with a rare form of arthritis.
B次元官网网址淚 kind of had to take a step back with fundraising because of how busy IB次元官网网址檝e been with school and Landen,B次元官网网址� said Jillian Lanthier, LandenB次元官网网址檚 mother. B次元官网网址淪o to see the community come together to help us like this, I am speechless. I love Sooke as a community, and I have no plans of ever leaving.B次元官网网址�
is planned for Feb. 10 in Sooke and candy bags will be sold outside Shoppers Drug Mart, Village Foods and at several other Sooke businesses for $2 each to raise money for Landen.
Another event coming up is a Boz RozB次元官网网址揜emember John Lennon benefit concert on Feb. 16 starting at 8 p.m. at the Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Sooke. Tickets cost $20 and will be available at the door the night of the show; all proceeds will go to Landen.
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Last June, Landen was diagnosed with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis , or SJIA, a disease that causes his body to attack itself, leaving him with crippling muscle and joint pain and with virtually no immune system.
LandenB次元官网网址檚 medicine is no longer working effectively, and the only option for treatment Ilarus, a drug that costs $19,000 a month, and is not covered by B.C. Pharmacare.
Lanthier, said , she is first aiming to try and raise $57,000, enough for three months of treatment.
So far, through a page, Lanthier has raised more than $15,000.
One of the biggest upcoming fundraisers planned is a family carnival and concert on March 3 at the Sooke Community Hall. The carnival, which will include a D.J., games, bouncy castles, a magician and a photo booth, runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is by donation.
The adult concert and dance, featuring the band SuperSauce, will begin at 8:30. Tickets can be bought in advance at Stick in the Mud Coffeehouse or at Shoppers Drug Mart for $10, or for $15 at the door.
Marg Ayres, organizer of the event, said she was amazed and very thankful for how much Sooke has already contributed towards the event.
B次元官网网址淲e are looking forward to coming out and meeting people at the events, and thanking people for what theyB次元官网网址檝e done for us,B次元官网网址� said Lanthier.
Axe and Barrel and Mr. Mikes in Langford are both planning on hosting B次元官网网址渂eer and burgerB次元官网网址� nights to raise money, and there is also an ongoing bottle drive happening for Landen. Bottles can be donated at the Sooke Bottle Depot.
B次元官网网址淭hey say it takes a village to raise a child, and I seriously have that right now. That village for me is Sooke, and I donB次元官网网址檛 know how to express how grateful I am,B次元官网网址� Lanthier said.
To donate to the event on March 3, contact Marg Ayres at marg@timayres.ca.
