(Supplied: Jen and family, GoFundMe)

By Abby Zieverink

"Power of Community"

‘The power of community:’ Friends, community rally to support local family

Nov 13, 2021 | 7:00 AM

The Grande Prairie community has yet again stepped up to support someone in need.

This comes as over $22,000 was raised in under 48 hours through a GoFundMe for local resident Jen Edwards, who was recently diagnosed with colon cancer.

“That turned her world on her head, and it’s difficult being a single mom. She has four kids who she supports, she’s their rock and not being able to work because she’s going to be going through with treatments and then recovering from that, we knew she needed help,” says one of Jens closest friends, Linh Wisekal.

A group of Jen’s closest friends rallied together to create this GoFundMe to help raise money for Jen and her four children.

Wisekal, who was one of the organizers, says the original goal was $20,000.

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However, that was quickly surpassed in the first 24 hours.

“That was a big number and so it was astonishing to see how quickly that was reached, and the notifications we would get of all the donations coming in constantly was mind-blowing. It was amazing,” she said. “The community has really stepped up and blown all of us away in their support with Jen.”

She says although reaching the $20,000 so quickly was truly unexpected and heartwarming, she adds it truly shows the “power of community”, particularly the Grande Prairie community, who always pulls together to help those in need.

“When someone in your community is in need, everyone bands together and in a heartbeat. If the shoe was on the other foot, and she had done this, she would help someone out who was in need.”

Edwards, who is a preschool teacher, yoga instructor and is heavily involved in many organizations in the community, has always been giving to the community, including fundraising over $8,000 for PACE.

“More recently with Everyone Eats in Grande Prairie, she’s constantly there helping out and serving food to those less fortunate in our community,” added Wieskal.

With that, she says although they are astonished by how quickly the outpouring of community support was, they all know people in Grande Prairie always work together to help anyone in need.

“It’s not only a testament to what a great person Jen is but also a testament to the great community that we live in.”