It's about helping a family.

That's how Tanya Wanders describes her efforts organizing a fundraiser for Carman's Jolene Stevenson.

Jolene is heading to Pune, India to receive the controversial MS Liberation Treatment pioneered by Italian physician Paolo Zamboni to help his wife Elena cope with MS. Jolene will be joined by husband Bill in making the trek.

In Canada, patients who want the treatment, based on the concept that MS symptoms may be greatly reduced by opening veins in the neck, must - at their own expense - travel to other countries like Poland, Bulgaria and in this case India, to have the procedure, initial follow-up treatment.

'Huge Financial Burden'

"This is a huge financial burden for any family," said Wanders.

Wanders is friends with the Stevensons and has been a work partner of Bill who is a paramedic based out of Boundary Trails Hospital.

"Both of them have given so much to the community often behind the scenes with few accolades. Jolene also runs the Family First Program," Wanders said. "This [fundraiser] is just a way to give the community a chance to give something back."

The fundraiser is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 22 at the Carman Community Hall with a dinner set for 7 p.m. followed by a social at 9 p.m. There will be entertainment provided by the group Mind Over Matter that includes the Stevenson's son Jeremy as a member.

Wanders said tickets are available at the Carman Memorial Hospital front desk. Proceeds will go to the Stevensons to help offset the cost of the treatment in India.

For more information e-mail wanders1@mts.net or call Tanya Wanders at 745-7763.