Calgary dancer dies after hard fought battle with brain cancer

Calgary's dance community is mourning the loss of Rochelle Gartner after the longtime dance teacher lost her fight against glioblastoma this week at the young age of 46.

"It is with heavy hearts we announce the passing of our loving Rochelle Gartner-Primiterra," the Facebook pageRochelle's ARMYposted after she died on Aug. 23.

WATCH | See how she continued to do what she loved, even after her diganosis, in the video above

WhenGartnerwasn't dancing or teaching others how, she could often be found organizing dance competitions to raise money for cancer research.

"They haven't come up with a new treatment plan for glioblastomasince 2005. So,I needed to do something," Gartnertold CBC Calgary in May 2020 as she handed over a cheque for $14,200 to the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada.

Gartner was diagnosed in 2019 with Stage 4 glioblastoma multiforme, an aggressive form of brain cancer. She underwent emergency brain surgery thatJuneandreceived many rounds of chemotherapy.