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PJ party raises $11K for local families

Feb 1, 2015 | 3:25 PM

Shopping, Zumba, a live concert, and dance were all part of the 4th annual PJ Party Saturday night at the Prince Albert Exhibition Centre.

The focus this year was fundraising for Ears for Arabella, as well as the Graves and Thyroid Eye disease awareness campaign.

The money raised gets split between the two causes.

The Carter family has been fundraising for months to pay for a surgery only available in San Diego or Texas. 

Arabella Carter, 4, was born with bilateral Microtia (no outer ears), and lacks the ability to hear without the aid of a bone achoring hearing apparatus. The medpor surgery would enhance her ability to hear.

The party on Saturday night raised close to $11,000. 

“It just comes with the fact that Prince Albert is a community that is so amazing and they are so helpful and so generous. Seeing the turnout tonight is unbelievable,” said mother Danielle Carter.

The Carter family, which started fundraising only four months ago, is now halfway to their goal of raising $100,000.

“We started with a powerlifting competition and we did all the bracelets; we did all the tree ornaments; we did the kids carnival and now we are here,” said Carter.

The family has seen its share of setbacks along the way. The provincial government has advised them that the surgery cannot be covered. The family was also recently rejected by Telemiracle.

“I got a deny letter the other day saying that because the Saskatchewan government hasn’t approved her out of country surgery, they(Kinsmen) won’t pay for any travel or anything like that,” said Carter.

Carter remains confident that they can raise the full amount. The next fundraiser will be on March 14th, an adults only dance at Nordale Hall.

nmaxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell