Makayla MacGean has had more than her fair share of medical concerns.
The 16-year-old was born without eyes or eye sockets. As a result, she requires ongoing specialized medical care, including as many as three monthly trips from her Cape Breton home to Halifax.
The medical care required to help Makayla is costly, but the family is not going it alone. The Makayla Angel Network raises money with an annual bottle drive that collects enough recyclables to cover the cost of several trips to Halifax.
“It goes on all the rest of the week, through calls. We do pickups and go door-to-door,” says Makayla’s father Sheldon.
Edgar Wilkie collects and stores empties throughout the year, then donates the bottles to the Makayla Angel Network.
“I feel sorry for the young girl and the family,” says Wilkie. “I hope they do alright with the bottle drive.”
Over the past 13 years, the bottle drive has raised over $30,000 for the MacGean family.
“Every year it’s the same,” says Sheldon. “We get many calls and donations. It doesn’t matter how big or small the donation, we will pretty well go anywhere to pick up the bottles.”
The annual event is supplemented each spring with a benefit dance. Makayla’s mom Linda says the fundraisers are a big help for the family.
“The community is very generous,” says Linda. “The generously donate their bottles or whatever they have and it’s greatly appreciated. It’s nice to see all the support that’s given to Makayla.”
With files from CTV Atlantic's Randy MacDonald
