Helping out Chloe

Photo: Contributed - Facebook

Miracle for Chloe

Billy Martin has never met Chloe Kroeger, but that hasn't stopped the Fort McMurray man from embarking on an ambitious effort to help out her family.

Chloe, 4, of Penticton, was diagnosed last year with a rare form of cancer, known as Rhabdomyosarcoma, and has been undergoing massive amounts of chemotherapy and other treatments.

Martin, formerly of Penticton, said he wanted to do something as soon as he heard about her situation.

"For some reason, I've seen my daughter in this little girl, and I couldn't imagine what they're going through," he said. "I just had to do something."

Martin donated $100 or $200 last year when he saw the original post about Chloe on Facebook.

It has since snowballed into much more.

This week, he started a massive fundraiser with companies he works with and so far has raised more than $5,000.

His intention was to send the family to Disneyland, but just as he was setting it up, he learned the family got approved by the Make A Wish Foundation for the trip.

Now, he hopes the money can go toward sending the family back to Isle aux Morts and Rose Blanche, Nfld., to meet the entire family.

"The whole family deserves a chance to meet Chloe, so that's where the money I've raised is going to go," he said.

Martin is also planning a benefit concert for June 12.

Martin's fund-raising effort is one of many since Chloe was diagnosed. There have been several in the South Okanagan and other locations with a Miracle for Chloe fund-raiser planned for 2 p.m., Sunday at the Penticton Speedway.

Updates on Chloe's treatments and different fund-raisers are available on the Miracle for Chloe Facebook page.