Deagan's Day aims to raise $50K for family of sick Hay River toddler

People in Hay River, N.W.T., are digging deep into their wallets and hearts this week to help one of their own.

This upcoming Saturday has been declaredDeagan'sDay, aday-long fundraising event to raise $50,000 for the family of Deagan Clavette, a two-year-old toddler who suffers from a rare, life-threatening illness doctors are still trying to diagnose.

"This family needs help,"says Shari Burnstad, who is organizing the fundraiser.

"I honestly can't fathom what it would be like to have a child where you go every day to the hospital."

Deagan'sfamily is currently living in an allergy-free home in Edmonton near the Stollery Children's Hospital, where Deagan has been living for most of his short life, being treated for his multiple allergies and unpredictable reactions. To make matters worse, his father Kevin is being laid off from the Snap Lake mine.

The family continues to search for a specialist in the United States or beyond who can treat Deagan'srare condition.

Even before formal fundraising began, Burnstad says people were "throwing money" to the cause.

When she picked up a large glass jug from the Ptarmigan Inn to use to collect donations, the jug had just been washed. One woman immediately plunged $40 into the wet jug.

"Another lady said 'Me too.' She donated $10,"saidBurnstad.

A magnet for goodwill

One of the fundraising drives was selling magnets. One woman gave Burnstad $200 for a magnet.

"We're not asking $200 for a magnet," Burnstad toldthe woman.

"She said, 'No, I just want to find a place where I can donate.' We are finding that all over. People of the North have rallied."

The wave of donations continues. In addition tothousands of dollars in cash, community members and local businesses have donated airline tickets, barbecuesand a patio set for a silent auction to be held Saturday evening. The Lions, Rotary and Elks Clubs have joined the cause.

On Sunday, the annual Memorial Hockey Challenge in Yellowknife, an event to honour fallen firefighters and RCMP, will donate half of the money raised to the Clavette family.

Branden Wasiuta, whoco-chairs the Memorial Hockey Challenge,says businesses big and small have stepped up forthe cause. Last year the event raised more than $20,000 for another family in need.

"The last I heard just recently is that we are on par to hit close to that or somewhere in that ballpark" this year," Wasiuta said.