Local cancer support group gifts care bag to resident battling cancer

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. —  A Fort St. John resident currently battling cancer has received a special gift from a cancer support society. 

The Fort St. John Cancer Support Circle society is an organization that provides support to those diagnosed with cancer, including many services such as care bags and a wig room for those who have lost their hair for a number of different reasons, including cancer and alopecia. 

On May 1st, 2026, the society gifted it’s first ever care package to one it’s clients. 

Krista Fowler is a Fort St. John resident who is currently battling lung cancer. Fowler was previously diagnosed with cervical cancer, resulting in a hysterectomy.

Following her hysterectomy, Folwer said she had to do six weeks of chemotherapy and radiation to get rid of leftover cancer. 

One year after she was deemed free of cervical cancer, Fowler’s cancer returned, this time in her lungs.

“I felt a little bit of the fluey side, about a month ago,” said Fowler. “[I] went into emergency, they did X-rays and [yeah] I had mets in my lungs from the original cancer, so now I’m back in treatment.” 

On May 5th, Fowler will receive her next round of treatment in Kelowna at the BC Cancer Sindi Ahluwalia Hawkins Centre for the Southern Interior. 

“I’ve already been for one round of treatment three weeks ago,” Fowler said. “My next one is May 5th, and I expect it to go as smooth as [the] first one did. I had no side effects, no nausea, no anything.”

According to Fowler, Fort St. John city councillor Trevor Bolin connected her with the Fort St. John Support Circle Society.

Brenda Baumeister, co-founder of the Fort St. John Support Circle Society, said the care package includes a number of items, including a blanket, notebook and pen, chapstick, hand cream, medication, a wordsearch, hand wipes, Kleenexes and gift cards to places like Tim Hortons.

“It’s [care bags] for anyone in our community who are having treatments, whether that’s in Fort St. John at our cancer clinic here or down south sometimes,” said Baumeister. 

According to Baumeister, she felt the care bags were a nice addition to the support group.

“We just felt that it’s a personal thing [to] and so many people say it’s a wonderful thing to receive,” she said. “We just felt it was a very nice touch to our support group and that it just makes us smile.” 

Fowler said it’s special to be the first person to receive a care bag. 

Last month, the society received a donation from Tourmaline Oil on April 15th. 

The society will be hosting a Mother’s Day fundraiser this year from May 8th to 10th inside Totem Mall. 

More information on the society can be found on its Facebook page or on the Northern Health stories website. 

Those who wish to inquire about receiving a care package can the society by calling 250-263-7824 or by emailing fsjcsc@gmail.com.