Family receives outpouring of financial support amid daughter’s cancer battle, including from Woodstock Wildcats

Delaney Edmiston (centre), 13-years-old, with her 11-year-old brother Cohen (left) and 16-year-old sister Hayden (right). (Chris Edmiston photo)

Emily Stewart, Echo Correspondent

The family of a young hockey player facing cancer is grateful for the support from the Woodstock Wildcats girls hockey association.

During the recent Wildcats Rep Tournament, the association sold mugs and glasses as a fundraiser for 13-year-old Delaney Edmiston, a U15 London Devilettes hockey player facing a rare childhood cancer known as Ewing Sarcoma. $3,200 was raised from the drinkware sales, cash donations, and online auction sales for PWHL tickets.

“Hockey is built on teamwork, loyalty, and looking out for one another. Supporting a fellow young hockey player during a time like this, is not only about helping financially and supporting the player's emotional resilience but shows our own players that these values extend far beyond the rink,” said Sarah Morrison, association president. “We hope that by reaching out and offering our support, it is a reminder to a fellow hockey family that they are not in this fight alone.”

Delaney’s father Chris Edmiston said the family had some friends playing in the tournament and had heard bits about the fundraiser but got the full confirmation from Morrison after the tournament ended.

"It was a little overwhelming to have complete strangers doing that for us, but it's definitely a great feeling to know that people out there are supporting her. Even if they don't know her or know us, I think see a little bit of Delaney in their own kids and wanted to help.”

Calling his daughter “a tough cookie,” he added Delaney just finished her third round of chemotherapy last week.

“She has good days and bad days but more good days for sure. I wasn't sure how it was going to go, so I'm happy she's tolerating everything really well.”

After completing six rounds of chemotherapy, the Edmiston family will have to fly out to Florida for Delaney to access proton therapy, a specialized radiation that’s different from radiation available in Canada.

In addition to the Woodstock Wildcats’ fundraising, support poured in through a GoFundMe campaign for Delaney and her family. As of Jan. 27, more than $91,000 has been raised – far surpassing the $15,000 goal.

“When we started the GoFundMe, I was expecting we might come close to the original target of the campaign. It just took off and really blew our minds with how our local community, friends, and family supported us spiritually and emotionally and just being there for us and to have complete strangers like the Wildcats did has been unbelievable,” Chris said. “I can't thank these people enough and they'll never know how much it has meant to us to have the support and have people rallying behind her through this battle."

Donations via GoFundMe can be made online by visiting https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-delaney-fight-ewing-sarcoma.