Help Jim beat back against stage 4 cancer

Help a tireless champion of the vulnerable in need of support in the battle against stage-4 metastatic prostate cancer!

Jim Mandelin’s story is nothing short of miraculous. After a highly abusive childhood which drove him to seek refuge and connection on the street in drugs and gangs, Jim found himself floating above his body, dead on the operating table, due to heart failure in his early 20s. One unsolved random act of kindness snapped him back into his body. Since that day, he has been clean and dedicated his life to understanding and healing himself and fostering that growth for others who have followed the same path.

 

He is a registered counsellor who has helped many people with similar experiences over the past 33 years. He has written a book and delivered 1000s of speeches to schools, professional organizations, universities, and training law enforcement officers. He shares this story to help professionals be more empathetic in assisting kids experiencing the same troubles, to help those same kids avoid the pitfalls Jim experienced, and to foster empathy in an increasingly digitalized and disconnected world.

 

Jim was diagnosed Sept 13, 2019, with stage 4 aggressive and incurable metastatic prostate cancer. He has chosen an integrative approach (which honours his Indigenous worldview and perspective while acknowledging the benefits of western medicine) that blends allopathic and naturopathic medicines. It has already cost him close to $100 000 dollars outside of what is covered by MSP and extended care health packages. Some of the regular treatment costs incurred are below.

 

 

 

Jim’s cancer has recently become resistant to most standard of care treatments, and there was a spike in his numbers after a delay in medication availability. As Jim can now access the medication he needs, we are looking to find ways to support this kind and generous man. He has supported so many others through the years, as his friends and colleagues we want to reflect back to Jim the love, kindness, and compassion he has gifted to the world; above all for himself and so he might shine his light in this world for others as long as possible. 

 

The sum we are asking for is meant to support the following.

 

- Provide Jim with financial peace of mind by paying back all the debt incurred to date through his treatments

- Enough to cover the costs associated with treatment in the coming years

- Use any other funds to explore promising treatments that may become available