A GoFundMe campaign has been started to assist Jessie Dawson, a Kwanlin Dün First Nation councillor, as she deals with a recent diagnosis of stage two breast cancer.

Dawson’s granddaughter, Shalay Sutherland, said Tuesday her grandmother is scheduled to undergo surgery tomorrow in Whitehorse.

That will be followed over the next six to 12 months with regular trips to Vancouver for chemotherapy and radiation.

The money will be used to help with the travel and accommodation costs for family members who want to be with and support Dawson down south as she receives her follow-up treatment, Sutherland said in an interview.

She said some of the money will also be used to assist with costs associated with cleaning up her grandmother’s home. The residence was damaged extensively by smoke from a recent stovetop fire while nobody was home.

“Whatever will be needed to get her comfortable will be taken out of the GoFundMe, and whatever is left will be put into a savings account and put towards Vancouver,” said Sutherland, who was busy washing walls at Dawson’s home when she was interviewed.

Dawson was diagnosed with cancer in late November.

The 24-year-old Sutherland said she had lived with her grandmother her entire life until she moved out last spring. Dawson lives alone now.

Sutherland said she wants to get her home in shape. The work includes dealing with all the clothes and other material that will require professional cleaning because of the smoke damage.

Dawson has served on the Kwanlin Dün First Nation council for the past 16 years.

She has represented the First Nation at many public functions, always wearing her favourite hat of the day.

“She’s been a part of numerous boards, committees and school councils all over Whitehorse including ... Elijah Smith Elementary School, F.H. Collins, Yukon River Intertribal Watershed Council, Takhini elementary, Individual Learning Centre, Blood Ties Four Directions, etc.,” Sutherland writes on the GoFundMe page.

“She loves education and helping to ensure our future generation succeeds. She has spoken at almost every single graduation in Whitehorse for the last 12-plus years.”

Aside from her passion and wisdom, Dawson’s trademark is her array of hats.

“Her family is her life,

Her sisters are her best friends,

Her friends are her everything.

And ... her hats are her pride,” Sutherland writes.

Dawson is the mother of three children, six grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Sutherland said her grandmother would like nothing more than to have family by her side during a very stressful time when she travels south for treatment.

Some GoFundMe campaigns can be questionable, she said.

But when you need the help, Sutherland added, there’s nothing wrong with asking for it.

Since the campaign started just over a day ago, $1,190 of the $7,000 goal had been raised as of this morning with donations from 16 individuals.

They include donations from Premier Darrell Pasloski and Whitehorse city councillor Samson Hartland, according to the GoFundMe page.