ST. PAUL - A fundraiser for a local woman battling brain cancer is proof of how powerful community can be, bringing people together for a common goal, while also raising funds to help cover costs associated with medical treatements.
While online efforts are taking place through a social media bidding page that features a wide variety of items, some selling for well above their retail value, a cut-a-thon and spin-a-thon are also set to take place this weekend to raise even more funds for Coco (Claudette) Webber.
Jenn Doonanco is one of a number of hairstylists who will be giving her time and talents to the cut-a-thon. People can call her studio to book a time for a haircut on Sunday, Feb. 2. Other hairstylists joining in the effort include Kyla Burshtinski, Bailey Bodnar, and Ashley St. Arnault. Lories Place, a salon in Glendon, is also taking part in the cut-a-thon.
The cut-a-thon in St. Paul will take place at Doonanco's salon, Chez Elle, and will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. As of Wednesday morning, there were still some openings available for the cut-a-thon. Haircuts for men and children will cost $40, and women will cost $50. To book a spot, call the salon at (780) 646-6113. Snacks will also be served throughout the day.
And if people aren't able to stop in for a haircut on Sunday, they can go online to bid on a variety of items donated by local businesses and individuals. The fundraising is being done through a Facebook event called "Bidding for Coco." Some of the items have bids that have already exceeded their retail value, says Doononco.
She admits that when she set up the bidding event, she thought it would be a smaller side event to the cut-a-thon to help raise additional funds, but it has already grown beyond her expectations.
"I think I can speak for the whole family when I say we are all so overwhelmed and grateful for the support," says Ashley Meger, who is engaged to John Webber, Coco's son. "There have been many tears already, and there will be many more to come I'm sure. It's amazing to see the community come together like this."
Meger says she got to know Doonanco through playing against her in the Friday night volleyball league, but also because she booked Dooanco as her hairstylist for her upcoming wedding this summer.
"And so, naturally, I wanted to get to know her a bit and booked my first appointment with her for a cut and colour on Nov. 5, the day Coco ended up having her seizure at the bingo hall that led us to finding out she had a tumor. And when I went for my next appointment at the beginning of January, I was sitting in the chair and she was doing her thing and I mentioned to Jenn what had happened after I left the salon that day, and told her a bit about Coco's story. And immediately she offered to try and help us in anyway that she could," explains Meger.
Coco has been diagnosed with an aggressive brain cancer called Glioblastoma. The average survival is 12 to 18 months with only 25 per cent of GBM patients surviving more than one year, and only five per cent of patients surviving more than five years, according to information from Meger.
Coco began radiation and chemotherapy on the Dec. 19 in Edmonton, finishing that process on Jan. 20.
"Now she gets to give her body a break for a little bit, and then she will continue treatments on a chemotherapy pill. This has already taken quite a toll on her and so she is looking into some alternative therapies to help try to boost her immune system, as well as fight the cancer," according to Meger.
Coco is well known throughout the community. She's worked for the County of St. Paul FCSS department for a number of years, and has many ties to the community often working closely with seniors and other community members. She also works at the bingo hall many evenings and weekends. She has also worked at Glendon school in the past and once operated her own dayhome.
Located in the same building as the Chez Elle salon is another local business, Wheel Fit Co. The business offers spin bike fitness classes and has also decided to get involved in the fundraising intiative for Coco.
On Sunday, Wheel Fit Co is offering four different times to jump on a bike and get a workout in for a good cause. Classes will take place at 10:30 a.m., 11:15, noon and 1 p.m. and will be 35 minutes in length. The average class at Wheel Fit Co costs $18, and rather than collect those fees, people are being asked to give donations.
People can book into the fitness classes through the MindBody app. A DJ will be playing music during each of the rides, says Alexandra Piquette.
Meger says she and Webber's daughters, Katie and Brittany, have signed up for one of the morning spin classes, along with other family members and cousins. Meger is also planning to get her kids' haircuts done during the cut-a-thon on Sunday.
