Our dear friend Erin, a full-time single mama of her energetic son, Sterling and their pup Callie, was diagnosed with breast cancer in the spring of 2024. Erin has been undergoing treatment and, although she is looking forward to getting back to the dynamics of everyday life come May or June, we are asking for help to support her and her family financially through this challenging time.

We have no doubt about Erin’s strength, propensity for endurance, and ability to power through the difficulties of cancer treatment. However, in just a few months, she has already endured surgeries, with complications due to infection and the side-effects of chemotherapy on her circulatory system. In the fall of 2024, surgery and further tests revealed that Erin also has cancer throughout her lymph nodes, which has led to an altered and extended treatment plan.

Financial assistance gained through this fundraiser will be used for the following:

Medications for cancer treatment - although medications and treatments delivered in a hospital setting (chemotherapy, radiation, surgery), are covered by Health Care, medications that are presecribed are not. So she is seeking help to cover prescription medications and immune therapy as she does not have health benefits.

Supporting Sterling’s activities and athletics

Rent, groceries, and living expenses

Monthly bills such as insurance, internet and phone

Erin is unable to work until her treatments are complete and was unemployed previous to her diagnosis in May 2024. Erin’s career as a communications strategist with roots in inclusion is contract-based and independent, without health benefits or access to sick leave. Although she has relied on savings to this point, her nest egg is running very low.

Erin is facing one more chemotherapy treatment in February, followed by radiation, and immunotherapy treatments over the coming year (to May 2026) to support her health in her fight against breast cancer. The stress of financial challenges is a part of any cancer journey, but particularly acute for a single mother.

We are asking Erin’s community of friends and neighbours to support her at this time, so she can focus on her health and healing, and create memories with Sterling over these last few months of treatment. Erin is such a caring and generous advocate for her family, friends, and community, we hope you can help support her through this time.

(Update - February 10th) To help with raising funds for Erin and Sterling, her friend Cheryl is holding a quilt draw - for each donation to this GoFundMe, you will get an entry to win a quilt if you send Cheryl a screenshot of your receipt. All the details and a peek at the beautiful quilts are available here https://www.instagram.com/p/DF6AemLSULr/. If you already donated, you can direct message her a screenshot of your donation and you will be added to the draw.

Thank you for learning about Erin’s fight against cancer. We are grateful for any contribution you can make to help with these immense medical challenges, supporting her so she can give her all and recover as soon as possible!