Chloe Kroeger, 3, about to embark on months of tough chemotherapy and radiation treatments
Chloe Kroeger
Business leaders and private citizens from Osoyoos have rallied behind three-year-old Chloe Kroeger and her family as Chloe begins her difficult battle against cancer.
During a fundraising dance and silent auction at the Oliver Community Centre 10 days ago, just under $14,000 was raised to help Chloe and her parents, Jon and Gina.
Jon, Gina, Chloe and her younger brother Lucas have been at B.C. Children’s Hospital in Vancouver since late March as the doctors diagnosed a small tumour in Chloe’s cheek. The diagnosis that she has Rhabdomyosarcoma, came on April 5.
Although this is one of the most curable types of cancer and her diagnosis came early, there are additional problems with the fact Chloe’s cancer has been identified to be located behind her eye, said Diane Epple, a close friend of the Kroeger family.
While the Kroeger family now lives in Penticton, both Jon and Gina grew up in Oliver and both are graduates from South Okanagan Secondary School, said Epple.
“They live in Penticton because of work, but they’re both from Oliver and both have most of their family in Oliver,” she said.
Because Chloe is scheduled to undergo long, difficult and aggressive chemotherapy treatments over the next 42 weeks – she will also start radiation therapy 12 weeks into her treatment – her parents have not been able to work full-time since their daughter was admitted to hospital and expenses are piling up, said Epple.
The amount of support from the business community in Oliver and Osoyoos has been overwhelming, she said.
“I understand the Oliver connection because both the parents grew up in Oliver, but when the call went out for donations for the silent auction at the dance, more than 10 businesses from Osoyoos came up with donations,” she said. “The parents were simply speechless when they heard about how many people were supporting them and how much money was raised.
“We put this dance together in less than three weeks and we honestly had set a goal of maybe $5,000, but to see the amount of support and the fact we raised just under $14,000 is amazing. There are too many people and business owners to thank, but they know who they are and I would like to thank them all from the bottom of my heart.”
During the recent Half Corked Marathon in Oliver, numerous local volunteers also jumped on board to assist Chloe and her family during a fundraising pancake breakfast held at Rustico Vineyards.
Volunteers from Smitty’s Family Restaurant and the Osoyoos Lions Club joined numerous volunteers from community organizations in Oliver and helped raise another large chunk of money for Chloe and her family.
More than $3,000 was donated into Chloe’s Valley First account.
If anyone wishes to assist Chloe and her family, donations can be made to the Chloe Kroeger Trust Fund, Valley First Credit Union, Oliver branch. The account number is 914978-201, Transit number 16650. The mailing address is P.O. Box 340, Oliver, B.C. V0H 1T0 or visit any Valley First branch.
“This is a very difficult time for the family and they really appreciate everything people have done for them,” said Epple.
BY KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
