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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A group of Yellowknifers are asking fellow residents to help fight cancer by joining the army. Eric's army that is.

Yellowknifers are looking to raise money to help former resident Eric Nolting who was recently diagnosed with stage four Melanoma. - photo courtesy of Curtis Debogorski

Members are working to raise money for former Yellowknifer, Eric Nolting who was diagnosed with stage four melanoma this year. Nolting, 37, went to the doctor this May with complaints of minor ailments, such as fatigue, and was shocked to find he had cancer. The doctor gave him four to six months to live.

Nolting had no choice but to quit working as a pilot for Air Canada, his dream job and one he had just started, and get treatment. The unfortunate circumstance has created financial uncertainty for Nolting, his wife and their two kids, Brody, 4, and Ellie, 2.

"I mean generally 37-year-old people don't end up with stage four melanoma. It's just one of those things with no prior indication," said Nolting.

"We are in for a long battle here so we're not exactly sure what the future will bring but we're fighting."

Nolting is currently taking Zelboraf, a drug that has the potential to slow the growth of cancer and in some cases it has actually shrunk tumors. However, the treatment comes with a hefty price tag of $10,000 a month and the drug isn't covered under health care. For now, Nolting said, the pharmaceutical company is supplying him with the drug for no cost but there is concern that that could change in the future. Also, if the drug stops working the other medicine he would have to take, an immune booster called ipilimumab, would cost him $120,000 for four injections.

Fortunately, Nolting said, his family has seen an overwhelming support from friends in Thunder Bay, Ont., Calgary, Alta., Vernon, B.C. and Armstrong, B.C., where Nolting currently lives.

"When something like this happens it's just amazing to see everyone come together and band together for our family. It's been a very emotional and uplifting experience for us," Nolting said.

Now, a group of Yellowknifers are looking to help out by hosting an event later this month at the Top Knight Pub.

Nolting has ties to the community from his time growing up here until age six and also from when he came back to live in Yellowknife between 2001 and 2005, while he was working at G&G Expediting and later as a co-pilot for Air Tindi.

Curtis Debogorski, Nolting's former roommate, said he is hoping the one night benefit will bring in about $10,000 for the Nolting family. Debogorski said he's certain the community will help them make it happen.

"We know that this is an extremely generous community and we've seen where people have just kind of banded together and have been able to help families in need at critical times like this," he said.

The Aug. 25 event will feature a DJ, door prizes and a silent auction. Attendees will be able to purchase T-shirts and wristbands that say Eric's army.

Nolting said he and his family are going to try their best to make it up the Yellowknife for the event and thank everyone personally.

"It's going to be a very cool event, it's very emotional for a lot of people for a lot of different reasons but ya it's just going to be cool," he said. "We are excited."

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