Nanaimo resident Devon Wood, 37, was diagnosed with ALS earlier this year. Wanting to help alleviate any financial burdens, her friends started a GoFundMe campaign. (GoFundMe)

By Jordan Davidson

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NANAIMO — A local nurse has launched a fundraising campaign for a friend who received a devastating diagnosis earlier this year.

Jennifer Loucks started a GoFundMe campaign for Devon Wood, a former operating room nurse at NRGH and VIU professor following Wood’s ALS diagnosis earlier this year.

Loucks said Wood, 37, had completed her education degree and was in the middle of moving into a new career when she received her diagnosis.

“She just graduated with her masters and the world was going to be her oyster. She had just gotten what was her dream job at VIU and was transitioning work. Unfortunately, she was actually between jobs when she got this devastating diagnosis.”

She said due to Wood leaving her position at NRGH but not working full-time at VIU yet, she didn’t qualify for long-term disability or sick leave.

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Loucks said that’s when she and her friends decided to turn to GoFundMe, setting a goal of $100,000 to remove any financial worry from Wood’s life.

“We didn’t want her to have to worry about money with everything else, with learning you have ALS and that your time is limited one way or the other… we wanted that (money) just to be the very last thing she had to worry about.”

The money will be used to support Wood and provide her with anything she needs, including possible home renovations.

Loucks said Wood is “really so thankful” for the support she’s received from friends, family, and the community, with Wood giving her blessing for the money-raising campaign.

“It’s not easy to ask for money or to say that you need that sort of help, and so I think she was just so appreciative and thankful that she had some help because she needed it at that time.”

For now, Loucks said her friend is looking after herself and making sure she’s living her life to the fullest.

“She’s eating the good stuff, and visiting friends and family and trying to soak it all in and just enjoy time, be comfortable and spend time with the people she loves and the people who love her.”

As of publishing, Wood’s GoFundMe had raised more than a quarter of its goal, with almost 200 people donating since it was created on July 26.

A recent report released by GoFundMe showed Canadians made over two million donations in 2023, an increase of 7.3 per cent from the same time period last year.

Nanaimo is sixth on their list of the most generous communities in the country.

B.C. communities took the top seven spots, with Victoria in first place, followed by North Vancouver, Vancouver, Prince George, and Kelowna.

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jordan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow