Vees support sick teen

Photo: Deborah Pfeiffer

Vees raise funds for Kaylee on Thursday

Several members of the Penticton Vees were stationed at Tim Hortons locations around the city Thursday morning, raising funds for a teen with cancer.

The fundraiser was held for Kaylee Kozari-Bowland, who has been battling the disease now for several months.

"Kaylee and her family are friends and acquaintances of our players and organization, and with that, the Vees were more than willing to help raise funds in support of Kaylee’s fight with cancer," said Kevan Scott, community coordinator for the Vees.

Six players were at the coffee chain locations from 8:30 to 10 a.m.

At the Tim Hortons on Westminster Avenue, a steady stream of customers donated money to Vees Captain Cody DePourcq.

"Kaylee is a big part of this town and battling through some tough times right now, so we want to be here to support her," said DePourcq.

Forward Patrick Newell, who joined DePourcq, said it was great to see this happening for Kaylee.

"We all kind of know her, and it's tough seeing the situation she's in," he said. "So we want to raise as much money as we can."

The effort received a positive response from the community according to Scott, who hoped to release the amount raised later Thursday afternoon.

This is one of several fundraisers held for 16-year-old Kaylee, since her cancer fight started last summer.

On July 9, 2014, she started having trouble walking. After three weeks and five trips to the hospital she was taken to BC Children's Hospital where she was diagnosed with an undifferentiated metastatic sarcoma.

By this time she was completely paralyzed from the chest down.

Since the surgery to remove the cancer from her spine, she has received intensive chemotherapy, radation and physiotherapy.

Most recently, the family was down in Vancouver for chemotherapy treatment and new tumours were found, one in Kaylee's upper spine and one in her brain.

She underwent radiation treatment and is now back home in Penticton.

Her mother Tammy Kozari said Kaylee was in good spirits.

"She is just amazingly strong and courageous and going with the flow," she said.

Kozari said the outpouring from the community has also been amazing.

"I actually went to a Tim Hortons this morning and got my picture taken with some Vees," she said. "The response is just phenomenal."

The next fundraisers for Kaylee will be on March 7 at the Wal-Mart and on April 12 at Indulgence Hair Salon.

The latter will be a day when everyone can come in for haircuts by donation.

People can also donate online.

Funds raised will allow Kaylee to have access to alternative treatments, research trial studies for undifferentiated metastatic sarcoma and consultation with leading doctors in the top of their field.