Newfoundland-born boy seeking costly cancer treatment in U.S.

A Newfoundland family living in Alberta hasplenty of help at home, as relativesand friends desperately tryto raise enough money to send a13-year-old to the United States for an experimental cancer treatment.

Connor McGrathhas been fighting cancer since he was 10yearsold. He had gone intoremission.

"Anybody who knows or sees Connor, you will always see him with a smile,"Connor's aunt, LisaMcGrath,told the St. John's Morning Show.

"He's just so free-living. He just wants to be out amongst everybody and he's joking.He's just full of life."

Raising money

The family's worst fear came true when the boy'sacutelymphoblasticleukemiareturnedin May2015.

After several rounds of chemotherapy, Connor'sdoctor in Edmonton suggested the family send him toPhiladelphia to haveCART-CellTherapy.

The therapy involves altering a patient's cells and then using them to attack the cancer,according to the National Cancer Institute.

How can you deny a child a chance at life?- Lisa McGrath, Connor's aunt

The procedure in the U.S., which McGrathsaid costs $800,000, is not covered by the Alberta government because it's considered experimental.

Without government help, the McGrathfamily back home, in the St. John's neighbourhood of Kilbride, and inPlacentia,are working hard to raise the money.

"We know we can do it. We are going to do it," McGrathsaid.

"Even if it was just a 10 per cent success rate. How can you deny a child a chance at life?"

McGrath said they have started a crowdfunding pageand several fundraisers are in the works.

"If you have 800 people in Newfoundland that can raise $1,000 we can send Connor to Philadelphia. It's reality, we can do it. We have to do it."