The hockey community rallied together to raise $33,000 for Kiefer Huskins.
The 15 year-old hockey player from Brooklyn was diagnosed with cancer below his left knee April 12.
The Liverpool Privateers and South Shore Major Bantam Lumberjacks held a charity game Saturday night in front of more than 1,000 people at Queens Place Emera Centre.
Huskins’ mother, Kim, says people from Cape Breton to Yarmouth reached out in support.
“The word is overwhelming, but in a good way,” says Huskins.
“It’s overwhelming but in a great way to know that all of our communities support us and it’s been amazing.”
She says spirits are good for the grade 9 student and it’s a long road ahead.
Kiefer started treatment April 23 and will continue chemo for eight months.
He will undergo surgery to remove the tumour in 10 weeks.
Kiefer also has a small spot on his lung, which doctors don’t know if its benign or malignant and won’t be determined until surgery is complete.
“The community is rallying around us and it just makes you think that there’s people out there that aren’t as fortunate and we’ve also been told that he’s very lucky that this happened to him when he was younger because, as an adult, it takes a lot longer to get treatment.”
Huskins adds the family has received the worst information it could get but the support they’re getting from communities has made it that much easier to deal with.
(Photo Courtesy: South Shore Major Bantam Lumberjacks)
Reported by: Nick Yorston
Twitter: @NickYorston
E-mail: yorston.nick@radioabl.ca
