The community has come together to offer what they can to help an amazing 10-year-old Langley girl who was diagnosed last year with a life-threatening disease.
A total of $26,000 was raised and all 350 tickets sold for “A Night For Selena” fundraiser held on Saturday night at Cascades Casino Summit Theatre.
Selena Yorke, a Langley Meadows Grade 5 student, has been diagnosed with a rare disease called Friedreich’s Ataxia, a neuromuscular disorder that affects every cell in her body including her heart. There is no cure.
Already, Selena is losing the ability to walk and uses a wheelchair part time.
“There is still a lot to do to help and numerous large expenses they will face in the future but at least it can help some,” said one of the night’s organizers Amber Medeiros, who is friends with the Yorkes.
The Yorkes are facing numerous expenses, including a stairlift for their home that will cost around $11,000 and a vehicle with a wheelchair lift which can costs upwards of $60,000. They also needed to renovate the bathroom at a cost of around $30,000.
But on Saturday morning, the Yorkes were surprised with the arrival of a walk-in tub and walk-in shower donated by Canadian Safe Step Walk-In Tub Co.
Canadian production manager Kevin Balmer read Selena’s story in The Times and was so touched he asked his company to put her on top of their Safe Step Cares program.
As well, Langley Fine Arts School will donate all the proceeds from its upcoming play The Importance of Being Ernest running April 18 to 26. Admission is $10. Further details at langleytimes.com.
If you would like to donate to help Selena, you can still go to any TD bank and ask for A Night for Selena acct. # 9194-5241677.