A family in Mayerthorpe has turned to crowdfunding to raise money for their father’s cancer treatment.

Tom Eichhorn has been battling lumps on his neck for two years and was diagnosed with Classic Hodgkin’s lymphoma in April.

The father of four is hoping to undergo treatment at the Century Wellness Clinic in Reno, which will cost upwards of $45,000.

“We are trying to sell some of the household stuff at the moment and we are trying to raise some money too to get him there and back by Christmas,” 16-year-old Geneva Blair explained.  

There have also been fundraising containers placed at local businesses and they have even turned to crowdfunding to help make up the shortfall.

“It is hard seeing him go through this and his health is declining so we want to try and help him out as much as we can,” Blair said.

“We need to get him there and done because we don’t think he can withstand much more after Christmas.”

After just a week of efforts the family said it has raised nearly $18,000.

Tom’s wife, Cynthia, said she was proud of the kids.

“Family is very important and obviously I have instilled that in them and it makes me proud.”

Tom teared up as he talked about the effort his kids have put in to raise money for his treatment.

“You have to go through something like this to know that people care.”

He said he was also touched at how the community has come together to support them.

“The generosity is just, it’s overwhelming. People really care.”

Tom has sought out the alternative treatment as he believes it is less harsh on the body.

“They try and keep your immune system up and health so that it fights the cancer as much as the chemotherapy will fights the cancer. The chemotherapy kind of gives it a boost but what they want is me to fight the cancer.”

Tom said he tried to get similar treatment in Edmonton but was told they would not detour from the chemo option. 

Tom will undergo treatment five days a week for three days and the family is hoping to have enough money raised by November 20 so he can begin his treatment quickly.

Cynthia said the money would cover the three weeks of treatments in the U.S. but they would still have extra costs for medication when they returned to Canada.

“We are hoping the $45,000 will get us through the lump of it and we’ll be able to carry on from there.”

According to the American Cancer Society, Classic Hodgkin’s lymphoma accounts for 95 per cent of all Hodgkin cases.

With files from Amanda Anderson