Saskatchewan artist fundraising to help family whose son has genetic disease
A Regina based artist is using his platform to fundraise in hope of helping a young boy with a genetic disease and his family.
After being contacted by Anna Laidlaw, who happens to be his old high school friend, Andrew Salgado jumped at the opportunity to help her and her family out.
"We were like buddies. I only did a semester at Campbell before moving to a different high school but that's where we met. I think there was sort of like that kindred nature in each of us and clung to her,” Salgado explained.
Salgado, who now lives in the United Kingdom, is raffling off some of his original artwork to help out Laidlaw’s son.
"I just thought that if we can raise some money, I have a platform, use it for good, let's try to do it,” Salgado said. “I think anyone with a heart can’t help but if you actually listen and read and understand what happening with her son Jack, I think you have to be a real cold person not to have an immediate response to that."
Andrew Salgado is raffling off some original artwork to help Anna Laidlaw's son, who was diagnosed with a rare disease. (Photo source: Andrew Salgado Art Instagram Page) Laidlaw’s seven-year-old son Jack was diagnosed with a rare disease called Spastic Paraplegia type 4 (SPG4).
"We finally got results in December 2023, so last year right before Christmas and, you know, we had never heard of it before,” said Laidlaw.
The neurons in Jack’s brain and spinal cord are degrading, which means he will be paralyzed over time.
There is no cure as of yet, but researchers are apparently working on one in the U.S, according to Laidlaw.
"With rare disease research like this, it requires funding to reach human clinical trials. If they don't have the funding, they can't progress with this research,” she said.
The Laidlaw family is fundraising for their son, Jack, who was diagnosed with a rare disease called Spastic Paraplegia type 4 (SPG4). (Photo submitted by Anna Laidlaw)
The research costs $3 million. The family is holding their own fundraiser and the money from Salgado’s raffle will also go towards funding for this research.
Laidlaw said she will not stop fundraising and is determined to fund the research to help slow down the progression of Jack’s disease.
"This cure is giving us hope. The other option is to watch him slowly become paralyzed and that's not an option for us,” she said.
The family also has a GoFundMe page up for anyone looking to donate.
More information on how to enter Salgado’s raffle can be found on his social media pages.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Car flies into B.C. backyard, lands upside down
A driver suffered only minor injuries after going airborne in a residential neighbourhood in Maple Ridge, B.C., on Friday, the car eventually landing on its roof in someone’s backyard.
Donald Trump, Elon Musk attend rally at same Pennsylvania grounds where gunman tried to assassinate Trump
Donald Trump returned on Saturday to the Pennsylvania fairgrounds where he was nearly assassinated in July, holding a sprawling rally with thousands of supporters in a critical swing state Trump hopes to return to his column in November's election.
Tax rebate: Canadians with low to modest incomes to receive payment
Canadians who are eligible for a GST/HST tax credit can expect their final payment of the year on Friday.
'No one has $70,000 dollars lying around': Toronto condo owners facing massive special assessment
The owners of a North York condominium say they are facing a $70,000 special assessment to fix their building's parking garage. '$70,000 is a lot of money. It makes me very nervous and stressed out of nowhere for this huge debt to come in,' said Ligeng Guo.
Police ID mom, daughter killed in Old Montreal; video shows person break into building before fatal fire
Police released the identities of the mother and daughter who were killed after a fire tore through a 160-year-old building in Old Montreal on Friday.
Frequent drinking of fizzy beverages and fruit juice are linked to an increased risk of stroke: research
New data raises questions about the drinks people consume and the potential risks associated with them, according to researchers at Galway University in Ireland, in partnership with Hamilton’s McMaster University.
'I screamed in shock and horror': Family faces deadly Vancouver hit-and-run driver during sentencing
The sentencing of the man who pleaded guilty in the deadly hit-and-run in Kitsilano two years ago began on Friday.
Vanderbilt takes down AP poll No. 1 Alabama 40-35 in one of college football's greatest upsets
Vanderbilt takes down AP poll No. 1 Alabama 40-35 in historic college football victory.
Tropical Storm Milton forms in Gulf of Mexico, could intensify as a hurricane threatening Florida
Tropical Storm Milton has formed in the Gulf of Mexico. It is located 220 miles (355 kilometres) north-northeast of Veracruz, Mexico.