Let's Help Helen Donnelly Fight Cancer
Donation protected
Helen's Story: In June, 2019, after a routine blood test, Helen was sent to a hospital ER for an emergency blood transfusion. Her iron levels were dangerously low, half the level of a healthy person. But the transfusion didn’t help her levels. Something was seriously wrong. A few days later she was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, a cancer of the bone marrow that damages healthy blood cells and harms the bones.
Anyone who knows Helen knows her unlimited energy, passion for life and great sense of humour. Now she is dealing with pain, long hours in bed and walking with a cane. The first phase of her treatment is 16 weeks of chemotherapy! It is also likely that she will get radiation too. She will not be able to work for many months. Like many self-employed arts workers she doesn’t have a financial safety net. She needs our support while she wrestles with this illness.
For over twenty years, Helen has worked as a theatrical, circus, cabaret and healthcare clown. She toured with Cirque du Soleil, performing in the U.S., England and Brazil. Many of you know her as Dr. Flap, a loved and respected therapeutic clown at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. For 12 years she has brought joy, lightness, music and laughter to thousands of children, their families and the staff too.
In 2018 Helen launched the first Therapeutic Clowning Certificate Program in North America to train clown artists to work safely and effectively in healthcare settings. She has taught theatrical clown to hundreds of people from all walks of life. She has taught at University of Toronto, Ryerson University, George Brown College, and The Haliburton School of the Arts.
About the organizer: For those of you who don’t know me, I have been Helen’s best friend for over 20 years. It’s a been a pleasure to watch her grow as an entertainer, teacher and therapeutic clown. I have organized this campaign on her behalf to help Helen deal with income loss while she fights this cancer. This Go-Fund-Me is for her benefit and she alone will have access to the proceeds. They will cover her cost of living and medical costs that arise (drugs and hospital transportation, etc). Most importantly your support removes financial stress from Helen and lets her focus on getting well.
Thank you for helping Helen fight this cancer!
Anyone who knows Helen knows her unlimited energy, passion for life and great sense of humour. Now she is dealing with pain, long hours in bed and walking with a cane. The first phase of her treatment is 16 weeks of chemotherapy! It is also likely that she will get radiation too. She will not be able to work for many months. Like many self-employed arts workers she doesn’t have a financial safety net. She needs our support while she wrestles with this illness.
For over twenty years, Helen has worked as a theatrical, circus, cabaret and healthcare clown. She toured with Cirque du Soleil, performing in the U.S., England and Brazil. Many of you know her as Dr. Flap, a loved and respected therapeutic clown at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. For 12 years she has brought joy, lightness, music and laughter to thousands of children, their families and the staff too.
In 2018 Helen launched the first Therapeutic Clowning Certificate Program in North America to train clown artists to work safely and effectively in healthcare settings. She has taught theatrical clown to hundreds of people from all walks of life. She has taught at University of Toronto, Ryerson University, George Brown College, and The Haliburton School of the Arts.
About the organizer: For those of you who don’t know me, I have been Helen’s best friend for over 20 years. It’s a been a pleasure to watch her grow as an entertainer, teacher and therapeutic clown. I have organized this campaign on her behalf to help Helen deal with income loss while she fights this cancer. This Go-Fund-Me is for her benefit and she alone will have access to the proceeds. They will cover her cost of living and medical costs that arise (drugs and hospital transportation, etc). Most importantly your support removes financial stress from Helen and lets her focus on getting well.
Thank you for helping Helen fight this cancer!
Organizer and beneficiary
Neil Muscott
Organizer
Toronto, ON
Helen Donnelly
Beneficiary
