Tara Jeffrey
Jaylyn Eastman is rarely seen without a smile on her face.
This, despite facing her third battle with cancer, at the tender age of eight.
“She is quite the vibrant little girl,” said Sue Rocca, who’s helping to organize a fundraiser for the Sarnia girl. “We are hoping to make her day a little bit brighter.”
Eastman was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a rare cancer of the sympathetic nerve system, when she was three-years-old, enduring treatment not once but twice, when the cancer returned last year.
Now the disease has returned for a third time, and friends and family are rallying around the youngster, and her mother Krista Clark, a single mom of four.
“We are simply trying to alleviate some of the financial burden,” said Rocca, a co-worker of Clark, who’s been forced to take time off work to care for her daughter.
“Even with the trials of their lives, Krista keeps a positive outlook.”
A Pasta Fundraiser is scheduled for May 17 at the Dante Club, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., along with a dessert sale, 50/50 draw and raffle prizes.
A Go Fund Me Page has also been set up (https://www.gofundme.com/8-year-old-jaylen-neuroblastoma) to help cover costs of travel, accommodation, medication and food.
Organizers are also hoping enough money will be raised to send Jaylyn and her family to Disney World, a long-time dream of hers.
Most recently, Jaylyn has been at Toronto’s Sick Kids hospital to receive treatment, but a recent return home had her visiting friends and classmates at Holy Trinity School.
“We just hope people will find it in their hearts to help a little girl, who, the odds are really stacked against.”
IF YOU GO:
WHAT: Pasta Fundraiser in honour of Jaylyn Eastman
WHERE: The Dante Club, 1330 London R
WHEN: May 17, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
DETAILS: Dinner, dessert, draws and raffles prizes. For more tickets and more information contact Angela at 519-381-5075 or email [email protected]