A local club has stepped up to assist with a Wallaceburg woman’s quest to make a little girl’s birthday extra special this year.
Krystal Gyuricza has been gathering birthday cards since the beginning of January for Hayden Foulon, who is battling Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, a cancer of the blood and bone marrow.
Hayden is set to go to Toronto on March 2, her 5th birthday, to begin preparations for a stem cell transplant.
She has been in remission since the end of January and there is currently no cancer cells left in her body.
The transplant itself is scheduled for March 13.
Heather Blake, whose husband Jerry Blake is the Chancellor Commander for the local Knights of Pythias group, said she saw a story in the Sydenham Current about Gyuricza gathering cards for Hayden and decided to help out.
“I thought, because with the Knights of Pythias everything is for the kids, they should actually jump on board and help out,” Heather Blake told the Sydenham Current.
She added that all of the K of P members donated some money, along with some local businesses including:
– Pizza Tonite
– Towell’s Auto Body
– Murray Street Auto
Heather Blake added many cards were given to them as well, including some special one’s.
Gwen Hughes, who owns Magical Parties by Gwenivere down in Florida sent a card and photo from ‘Princess Elena of Avalor’ from Florida. Royal Yoakum, who was a mechanic on the show Graveyard Carz, also sent a card.
Jerry Blake said the K of P was proud to help gather some card and gifts.
“It touches home for us because our oldest boy was sick when he was born and so it just touched us,” he said.
“I brought it up at the meeting and the guys just were all over it. They didn’t hesitate at all. It’s pretty impressive I think.”
“This is what we are here to do,” added Charles Masefield, the Grand Chancellor of Michigan.
“What we have always planned to do is help the community and anybody in need.”
With one more day of collecting left, Gyuricza said she figures she’s gathered over 1,600 cards and gifts at this point, and they’ve literally come in from all around the world.
“Iceland, Austria, lots from England, Malaysia, California, Texas, Seattle, North Carolina, out east in Canada, out west in Canada. So from all over,” Gyuricza said.
No Frills, McDonald’s, 99.1 and The Instant Print Shoppe in Wallaceburg were all drop-off locations, and Gyuricza is going to pick up the rest on Friday, February 24.
Gyuricza said she is going to deliver them to Hayden on the weekend.
“We wanted best wishes but then people started sending gifts and I also have money raised too,” she said.
“I am really happy. I talked to her Mom and Dad last night and they just can’t believe how far things are getting out. Hayden I think kind of has an idea that something is happening but she is not sure what. She is pretty excited.”
Watch for more on this story.
– Photo credit: Aaron Hall
