Gillian Fletcher has beat cancer before.
In April 2016, after several punishing rounds of chemotherapy, the REALTOR® from Re/Max Group Four Realty in Fredericton, New Brunswick, had finally done it. Life, at that point, was supposed to get back to a state of normalcy.
However, just months after receiving a clean bill of health, Gillian’s 27-year-old daughter, Jami Springer, disappeared in Moncton. The RCMP told the CBC its major crime unit is involved in the investigation and considered her disappearance “suspicious”.
Then, in November 2016, Fletcher’s cancer returned. This time, it was Stage 4. This time, the outlook wasn’t so promising.
“Chemo is making me so sick,” she tells the REALTORS Care® Foundation over the phone. “I just feel that if I continue doing it, the chemo will kill me before the disease does and before I find my daughter.”
That’s why she’s seeking experimental treatment at a clinic in Mexico. Timing is an issue and she’s trying to raise $25,000 U.S. as quickly as possible for the procedure. For this reason, the REALTOR® community in New Brunswick has rallied in her support. At their recent annual general meeting, close to $2,000 was collected to help fund Fletcher’s treatment.
“Literally, at noon the day before our AGM, there was a request to do something along the lines of ‘pass the hat,’” says New Brunswick Real Estate Association CEO Jamie Ryan. “A lot of our members are pretty tapped with how they donate, yet in one little afternoon they raised close to $2,000 for her. It’s just wonderful.”
Fletcher says she’s overwhelmed by the generosity and support from her REALTOR® community.
“I really can’t thank everyone enough. It’s been a pretty rough year to say the least.”
She says she credits her profession for allowing her to handle so much and for giving her a “fighting spirit.”
“The flexibility of being a REALTOR® lets me work when I feel well and just knowing I have help from other REALTORS® when I need it has been amazing,” Fletcher says. “The support has been huge.”
She’s fueled by her desire to find her daughter. Although Jami hasn’t been seen since August 31, 2016, Gillian isn’t about to give up hope on her… or herself.
“I’ve been public with this as much as I can because you never know what type of information is out there or who is out there and can help.”
Her friend Debbie Shorten, a REALTOR® with Exit Realty Advantage, has organized a fundraiser dinner for Gillian, to be held April 27 at the Kinsmen Centre in Fredericton.
“Gillian is one of the strongest women I know but she needs help with this battle,” Shorten wrote in a Facebook post.
