Over three years ago Brielle Thomson was born premature at nearly 30 weeks. Unknown to doctors or her family at the time, Thomson suffered from a severe brain injury at birth that left her unable to walk and talk.
Since then her family has done everything it can to raise money for rehabilitation sessions and medical devices that will hopefully allow Thomson to walk. Thomson’s mother Michelle Aguilar, went door-to-door collecting bottles to raise money for a Trexo Robotic Device, a machine that can help Thomson walk, and costs $43,000.
But Thomson and her family are not alone in their fundraising fight. This Friday, May 9, a five week long community-wide fundraising campaign will kick off with the hope of raising the money Thomson needs for the machine that will help her walk.
Dan Kroffat, a prolific Cochrane fundraiser, has helped to devise a fundraising strategy that will be unveiled at the Cochrane Toyota dealership on Friday. Kroffat said that over the next five weeks the community will be working together to help Thomson and her family raise the money she needs.
Aguilar, Thomson’s mother, was able to raise $7,000 from bottle collection, but Kroffat is hoping the community can come together and do more.
“Going for bottle drives is a significant undertaking by [Aguilar], but of course you’re not going to raise $43,000 that way,” Kroffat said. “I just felt that this initiative needed the support of the community.”
On Friday, Kroffat will announce the fundraising strategy for the next five weeks, which includes a plan for a huge community-wide garage sale–among other fundraising strategies– where the proceeds will go towards the fundraising goal, which will be tracked by a giant barometer at the Toyota dealership.
On June 14, a grand event will be held at the dealership. Special guests, and local political leaders will be in attendance to offer their support, and door prizes and a silent auction will be held.
Kroffat said that the enthusiasm for Aguilar’s bottle drive was a great start to the fundraising effort, but raising $43,000 that way can be very difficult. He’s confident that a wider community effort will be successful.
“This is going to get done,” he said.
In a March interview with the Cochrane Eagle, Aguilar said her daughter underwent a trial for the Trexo machine at the Alberta Children’s Hospital. The trial was a success. The device helped Thomson initiate 50 per cent of her steps, Aguilar said.
“When we get these robotic legs, they will definitely change her quality of life,” Aguilar told the Eagle in March. “All her limbs are affected [due] to the cerebral palsy, so it’s considered quadriplegic.”
Aguilar explained that they were introduced to the Trexo Robotic Device in 2023, at the Canadian Centre for Development. Although Brielle hated it at first, it served as equipment therapy to teach her how to walk.
“I know in my heart that my daughter will be able to walk one day,” Aguilar said. She has spent countless hours watching Brielle grow and overcome challenges. In her March interview, Aguilar said she would not stop until her daughter receives a Trexo Robotic Device.
If his actions are any indication, Kroffat feels the same way. The community will pull through in fundraising, he believes, and will provide the device that Thomson needs to walk.
“This is going to get done.”
--With files from Daniel Gonzalez and the Cochrane Eagle.
