Pre-prom fundraiser being held for woman battling cancer for sixth time
A chance encounter is bringing a much-needed source of support to a woman who is running out of fingers to count the number of fights she's had with cancer.
Alexa Dacres was first diagnosed with neuroblastoma in 2012. This type of cancer develops from immature nerve cells in several body parts. However, after beating this disease, it sadly has returned multiple times, with Dacres now in her sixth fight.
"A lot of people fear the unknown, which is a fear of mine too," Dacres said to CTV News. "I fear not knowing things."
The disease took much of her childhood away from her, forcing her to miss parties, all of grade 10 and much of her senior year.
But now a chance encounter with the founder of Random Acts of Kindness Alliston, a start-up charity working to lend a helping to those who need it, is providing her with a much-needed source of support.
On June 15, the charity will hold a pre-prom party for the graduating class of Banting Memorial. Founder Nicole Melara hopes to get as many students out as possible to the party. Professional makeup artists, professional photographers, flowers and tasty treats will all be offered for a minimum $20 donation.
Those funds will go towards Dacres as she continues a battle she's all too familiar with fighting.
"We just want to bring as much attention and awareness to it and help her keep the life that she deserves," said Melara of Random Acts of Kindness Alliston. "At the end of the day, not only do you have a really good pre-prom party, but you're doing something for somebody who truly deserves recognition for her skills and to help her keep going."
Random Acts of Kindness is Melara's latest mission in life. A recovered heroin addict, she started the charity as a way to give back to the community. In addition to holding events like this, the charity has a fridge and pantry open 24/7 for anyone in need.
"I had a rough life," Melara said. "I got out, but most of my friends didn't, and I think I got out because this was what I was supposed to do."
The funds will go towards Dacres' travel costs. Despite being an adult now, she is still being treated at Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto, which she says is due to the complexity of her case.
"I've missed out on a lot, but I've also gained a lot," said Dacres. "I've gained a lot of perspective on life. I've learned to appreciate, like truly appreciate every day that I get here; even if it's not the greatest day, I still got another day."
The party will be held on June 15, starting at 11 a.m. at 180 Nelson Street West in Alliston.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
NEW More unauthorized products for skin, sexual enhancement, recalled: Here are the recalls of this week
Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency recalled various items this week, including torches, beef biltong and unauthorized products related to skin care and sexual enhancement.
Where is the worst place for allergy sufferers in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
Do these exercises for core strength if you can't stomach doing planks
Planks are one of the most effective exercises for strengthening your midsection, as they target all of your major core muscles: the transverse abdominis, rectus abdominis, external obliques and internal obliques. Yet despite the popularity of various 10-minute plank challenges, planking is actually one of the most dreaded core exercises, according to many fitness experts.
Polar ice is melting and changing Earth's rotation. It's messing with time itself
One day in the next couple of years, everyone in the world will lose a second of their time. Exactly when that will happen is being influenced by humans, according to a new study, as melting polar ice alters the Earth’s rotation and changes time itself.
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
NEW 'Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire': A crowd pleaser that turns it up to 11
Hot on the heels of last year's 'Godzilla Minus One' comes 'Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,' the first ever Academy Award winner in the giant reptile's decades-long film career.
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.