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Paying it Forward through the Warrior Project
Paying it Forward through the Warrior Project
Michelle Pinon - News Advertiser
Courtney Yakimetz was a warrior in every sense of the word. Her family and friends continue to keep her memory shining bright by raising funds to help others battling cancer through the Warrior Project.
The fundraiser basically came into effect because the community came together and helped our family out when when Courtney was going through her treatments and it’s just a way that the kids and I could pay forward the support we received. Courtney’s family is a huge part of this event as well. They put a lot of time and effort into organizing. We also have an online raffle and 50/50 happening on Facebook under ‘Warrior Project’.
The first annual Warrior Project fundraiser was held last spring, and plans have already been set for the second annual event that will be held on June 1 at the Yakimetz farm in Minburn County. Mike Yakimetz said they have received so much community support, raising just over $6,000 to help other individuals battling cancer. He said they will continue to do the fundraiser in honour of his late wife.
Mike said, “The fundraiser basically came into effect because the community came together and helped our family out when Courtney was going through her treatments and it’s just a way that the kids and I could pay forward the support we received.
Courtney’s family is a huge part of this event as well. They put a lot of time and effort into organizing. We also have an online raffle and 50/50 happening on Facebook under Warrior Project.”
Last year’s fundraiser helped Kristina Ross from the Smoky Lake area. This year’s fundraiser is to assist Erin and Jon. Erin is a single mom to a one-and-a-half-year-old daughter named Summer. The day before her 38th birthday, Erin was diagnosed with Stage 3 Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. Her treatment plan involved chemo, surgery and radiation.
Jon was diagnosed with Stage 4 Colorectal Cancer with metastasis to the liver on May 19, 2022. In July, 2022, Jon had surgery that successfully removed all the tumors. For six months following, he underwent chemo, followed by a CT scan that showed no recurrence. In April 2023, he had an ileostomy reversal surgery, and two months later a CT scan showed five tumors on his liver. A biopsy confirmed a local recurrence of a Mucinous Adenocarcinoma which metastasized from the previous Colorectal Cancer. In September 2023, Jon was approved for immunotherapy, which he has been receiving for the last nine months.
Jon and his wife Ashleigh have five children. They include: Austyn, Landyn, Karsyn, Naya and Koltyn.
