The unconditional love from family and friends surrounding Subha Gill, a 20-year-old second-year UVic student and aspiring doctor who is battling bone cancer, may be the key to the success of an upcoming fundraiser.
An April 6-7 event, including a 24-hour skating marathon and a three-on-three hockey tournament, hopes to raise $5,000 for Gill, who was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, a rare type of bone cancer, last August.
After several trips to the hospital last summer due to an agonizing pain in her hip, an MRI discovered the quickly growing tumor in Gill’s left femur.
“The news was devastating,” says Jeevan Sohi, Gill’s mother. “I broke down but Subha was so strong. She was the one that was consoling us and telling us not to worry and that she was going to be fine.”
Gill’s rare form of cancer, similar to that suffered by Terry Fox, is most common among male teenagers and is one of the most painful types of cancer.
Gill’s family found her diagnosis hard to believe at first because the cancer isn’t initially something you can see.
“When her hair started falling out it was devastating, so we had a gathering and invited friends, family, and my hairdresser over to cut Subha’s hair,” says Sohi. “My eight-year-old son shaved his head first, then my older nephew. If you saw her you can’t even tell she is going through this. She looks normal and beautiful.”
After recent testing to see how Gill was responding to chemo, the family learned that her cancer hadn’t responded and had spread to other bones in her body. Gill has now started a new chemo medication while her family researches alternative treatments.
“All the support from our family, all the prayers, and all the love that she feels from everyone around her keeps Subha going,” says Sohi. “We’re just going through a rough time and she has her whole life ahead of her and that motivates her to stay strong and continue fighting.”
A flood of community support has come in since Gill recently shared her condition, including fundraising efforts like the event on April 6-7. Funds from these events will help Gill’s family cover health-related travel and other expenses.
Michelle Belland, fundraiser coordinator at the Island Centre of Excellence, where the benefit events are taking place, says that she’s happy to be helping out, as Subha’s diagnosis hit close to home for her.
“Cancer has been a silent killer in my family for as long as I can remember,” says Belland. “When I was given the opportunity to help a girl my age who was recently diagnosed, there was no way I could say no.”
Through it all, Sohi has been reminded of what a special person her daughter is.
“Subha has never let me down,” says Sohi. “She’s an amazing daughter and sister. She was a joy as a child and always has a smile on her face. I don’t think anyone could have asked for a more perfect child than Subha. We just have to keep fighting until she gets well.”
Subha Gill Fundraiser
Friday, April 6/Saturday, April 7
Island Centre of Excellence
250-590-7811