Jackie Christensen was diagnosed with breast cancer in September of 2023.
The mother of two had only recently returned to work, as a hairdresser, when she got the diagnosis. Christensen is self-employed, renting a chair at a Campbell River salon and has no medical coverage.
鈥淚 was a hairdresser for many years before having children and then I was a stay-at-home mom for 13 years before I decided to go back to hairdressing. I was renting a chair for about five months before I got diagnosed with breast cancer,鈥� shares Christensen.
Christensen started to undergo treatment in October of 2023, starting with strong intravenous chemotherapy until March of 2024. She then underwent a double mastectomy with lymph node removal in April of 2024. The pathology report showed that there were still live cancer cells in nine of the 24 lymph nodes that they took.
Christensen started on oral chemotherapy at that time and then moved on to radiation treatment. Overall, she has had to undergo three types of chemotherapy over the last year. To further combat the effects of the cancer, Christensen has had to take medication to stop estrogen and cancer cells from multiplying.
鈥淭here are all these prescriptions that go along with the chemo to help prevent side effects like nausea,鈥� shared Christensen. 鈥淭here is one prescription I was having, that was only three pills, that I had to take before my chemo infusion and it was $150 just for three pills every week.鈥�
A JumpCamp fundraiser was started by Patrick Kitto who is friends with the Christensen family. He knew they needed help with Jackie鈥檚 bills, particularly her prescriptions, during her chemotherapy treatment and decided to put together donations for a prize pack to raise funds to help support her.
鈥淭he community鈥檚 been amazing, absolutely amazing,鈥� said Christensen of the fundraising efforts.
The fundraiser started with items donated by various sponsors that JumpCamp regularly works with but has since grown to several local businesses who added in items to help. Items came from JumpCamp, Volcom, Pacific Sands Beach Resort, Blue Toque Sports, Hornby Organic, Kindred Snowboards, Mount Washington, Firshore Living, Fresh Fetch and Dodge City Cycles.
鈥淥riginally it was just my business, JumpCamp, which is a snowboard camp where we do freestyle snowboard stuff. We get all kinds of gear from our sponsors. There鈥檚 all kinds of snowboard gear in there and now we have other businesses coming on,鈥� shared Kitto.
The response from the public has been great so far, with at least 30 people purchasing at least one or two tickets, garnering more than$1,000 in donation money.
To purchase tickets, e-transfer $25 to jackiesbattle@hotmail.com - the money goes directly to Jackie. To donate items or for further information, contact Patrick Kitto at JumpCamp, (250) 792-2896 or www.jumpcamp.com. The winner will be drawn on March 1.
