A Nova Scotia family says they are overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from family, friends and even strangers after receiving two devastating cancer diagnoses.

Both parents were diagnosed with cancer within days of each other and childhood friends have shared the couple’s story online in the hopes of raising money to help with treatment, childcare, and anything else they might need.

Jill MacDonald says the response has been immediate and she wants people to know she is grateful.

“I could not believe how many caring people there are out there,” says the Hammonds Plains resident. “I want people to know how grateful we are and how thankful we are that there are so many kind people in this world.”

She says she started to feel pains in her knee in April and eventually discovered it was a tumour in her tibia.

While she was awaiting more test results, her husband Jeff was having his own tests done. Last month, both Jill and Jeff were diagnosed with cancer, just days apart.

“All of a sudden we get this diagnosis about him, that he has stage 4 rectal cancer, and then three days later the pathology was back from my knee, you know, and this is cancer too,” says Jill.

The couple is in their early 40s and has three children.

Jeff’s cancer is inoperable but he started treatment last week. Jill will require chemotherapy, radiation and surgery and is hoping to start her own treatment soon.

“I need to get going with this treatment so that we can fight this awful disease and make sure that I’m going to be here for my children.”

Childhood friend Tina Costain wanted to help and started an online fundraising campaign to raise money for the MacDonald family. The goal of $40,000 was met in less than a day and donations continue to pour in.

“Just knowing that so many people are pulling for them, it’s overwhelming, amazing, and it’s one of those moments where you have your faith renewed in humanity,” says Costain.

Jill says she is overwhelmed by people’s generousity and words of support.

“What is more powerful for me are the messages people are sending,” says the Grade 1 teacher.

“Our message to the kids every single day was, all it takes is one person to start kindness, to spread kindness, and it will spread to the world.”

With files from CTV Atlantic's Jacqueline Foster