Steveston community rallies around young boy fighting cancer

The village of Steveston is rallying around one of its own – after a young boy was diagnosed with bone cancer.

A charity head shave, hot dog and sausage sale and a GoFundMe page have been organized to help the Hill family, whose Grade 7 age son, Markus, is going through chemotherapy.

Ryan Lewis, of Steveston Barbers, has arranged the head-shaving for this Sunday, May 29 from noon to 3 p.m. while Original Sausage Haus owner Jens Hertha will sell hot dogs and sausages outside the barbers.

And one of Markus’ teachers, Bonnie Leslie, this week kicked off a GoFundMe page to help Ron and Angela Hill, who own and operate Village Books & Coffee House on Steveston’s First Avenue.

Hill family deserves some help: Lewis

“(The Hills) are so into the community and go out of their way to get involved and help out,” Lewis told the Richmond News.

“We have kids around the same age. But we got to know them well before the pandemic, as myself and Jens (Hertha) organized these pop-up dinners at Village Books. They were all over it and so enthusiastic.

“When we found out Markus has cancer, we talked about helping them. Both of them work in that shop; it’s their sole family income.

“It’s hard enough to have a small business and have to deal with COVID, but now this. Very soon they may have to consider closing now and then, which means no income.”

Great local prizes in raffle

As well as the aforementioned fundraising efforts, Lewis and Hertha have organized a raffle, with some fantastic prizes, donated by local businesses, still coming in.

Tickets for the raffle will be on sale at Steveston Barbers between May 26 and June 17.

To donate on the GoFundMe page, click here.