The 11th bi-annual poker tournament raised more than $7,000 for three-year-old Ben from 91原创 who is battling childhood cancer.
Ben is undergoing chemotherapy for T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (T-ALL) at BC Children's Hospital, and also recently underwent testing for micro-strokes.
In just three weeks, Ben has gone from 36 pounds to 50 pounds, and in an update to the page his other, Bailey Fenton, said he has no energy, and is sad and cranky all the time.
"I miss the him from before, because Leukemia is a timeline changer 鈥� there is now 'before' and there is 'after,'" she wrote.
The total $7,134 raised at the poker tourney is in addition to the $11,000 raised through the GoFundMe, which also includes a $2,000 donated from Twins Cancer Fundraising.
"I want to extend my deepest gratitude to everyone who came together for our recent poker night fundraiser in support of Ben and the fight against childhood cancer," Jodi Mangat said.
"I am especially grateful to our sponsors, my friends who stepped up to help, and most of all, the 86 players who showed up not just to play, but to make a difference."
Poker tourney winner, Kevin, donated $700 of his winnings to Ben's fundraiser as well, Mangat said, adding that he "exemplified the spirit of giving."
Since 2015, the Mangat family has held fundraisers to honour the memory of Jodi Mangat鈥檚 mother, Surjit Dhillon, who passed away of pancreatic cancer at age 72 in 2014.
鈥漁ur family witnessed first hand how this disease can take over a family's life, and completely devastate it,鈥� Mangat shared.
鈥淥ver the years we have grown and the community has helped us and our fundraisers get bigger and bigger.鈥�
They started with one poker night a year, which grew to two poker nights a year, and now, in addition to the poker nights, they host a softball tournament in August, all focusing on helping families affected by childhood cancers.
Those who missed the tournament can still donate to Ben and his family at .
The Old Farts Car Club is also sponsoring Ben for this year's car show in July.
