Sudbury radio station KiSS 105.3 has organized a Jan. 12 fundraiser called “Be a ROCKstar and KiSS Cancer Goodbye” to raise funds for a family member of one of the station's employees who was recently diagnosed with cancer.
“When cancer hits your family you band together to help,” said a web page for the fundraiser.
“That’s exactly what we here at KiSS 105.3 are doing to help out a member of our family.
“Lise Diotte has been working for KiSS 105.3 for 30 years and when she told us that her son Mario, was diagnosed with an extremely rare liver cancer we were heartbroken.”
Mario Diotte was diagnosed with Fibro lamellar Carcinoma, a cancer that has no treatment in Canada and his only chance at life is a clinical trial that can only be done in New York City, the website continued.
Due to Ontario laws the treatment cannot be funded by OHIP so the family has to pay for Mario’s treatment at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre in New York.
The total costs are unknown because the treatment is $110,000 for every six months of treatment. Mario will continue on a six-month treatment plan until he is cancer free.
The radio station is raising funds in a “truly Sudbury way” — porketta bingo.
The fundraiser, which gets underway at the Caruso Club at 7 p.m. Jan. 12, will also include a live and silent auction and entertainment by the band Twenty-One.
Prizes include tons of prizes, including Leaf tickets with two nights of hotel accommodations and $250 in restaurant gift certificates, Toronto Raptors tickets, Sudbury Wolves and Sudbury Five game tickets, Dyson vacuum, a handmade quilt, Sportsnet prize packages, Idylwylde golf passes, a Google Home device, concert tickets, autographed NHL Jerseys, a Husqvarna chain saw and more.
Tickets cost $20 each, with porketta cards $5 each. They're available at the KiSS 105.3/92.7 ROCK station, Cousin Vinny's in both Hanmer and Chelmsford, from Ward 2 Coun. Michael Vagnini (705-822-2997), The Rock Harley Davidson and DeSimone Foot & Ankle Centre.
If you're interested in donating to help Mario Diotte, you can also do so through this GoFundMe campaign.
