Jessica Wallace/Rocky View Publishing

A spin-a-thon fundraiser was held Oct. 14 at Genesis Place for an Airdrie family, Christian Lord and Jessica Girard and their two children, after Lord was diagnosed with cancer in August. The family's friends organized the event to support the family while Lord undergoes treatment. About $15,000 was raised from a silent auction and the 21 teams who entered the five-hour spin event.

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Spin-a-thon for local family raises more than expected

A spin-a-thon fundraiser held Oct. 14 at Genesis Place raised about $15,000 for Airdrie family: Christian Lord, Jessica Girard and their two children.

IF I GET A COMMENT FROM THE FAMILY BEFORE TOMORROW MORNING, IT WILL GO HERE…

“ (The amount of money raised) is about 50 per cent higher than we were hoping,” said one of the event organizers, Linda Bruce. “It was just overwhelming.”

The fundraiser was organized after Lord was diagnosed with cancer in August. As a self-employed millwright contractor, Lord brought in the only income for his family that includes Girard, Jacob, 4, and Mia, 2.

Friends rallied in support of the local family to aid them while he undergoes treatment. Lord was diagnosed with tongue cancer in August at the age of 37. The disease has since spread to his lymph nodes he recently underwent surgery and awaits news on whether he will need chemotherapy.

Kiera Gosse, one of the organizers of the event, has been friends with the family since 2000.

“We said ‘we’ll do whatever it takes,’” she said. “Jessica and Christian are very close friends of ours.”

The event hosted 21 teams of five spinners who biked for one hour each for the five-hour spin event as well as four individual spinners that endured the entire five hours.

Bruce said she was happy with the turnout.

“I think it really humbled Christian and Jessica how the community really rallied for them. It was great. It was truly wonderful to see people come together to support them,” she said.

The money will be used to sustain the family while Lord undergoes treatment. Girard said any money not used will be donated back into the community.