Pemberton Family Seeks Community Support for Cancer Treatment Costs

A Pemberton family is reaching out to their community for assistance in covering the high costs of a cancer treatment that has demonstrated positive results for Karen Ollier, who is facing a rare form of breast cancer. Since her diagnosis in late 2021, Ollier has encountered numerous obstacles, as her condition does not qualify for coverage under the Canadian health system.

Originally from the United Kingdom, Karen and her husband Nic relocated to British Columbia in 2010. Their lives took a dramatic turn when Karen was diagnosed with metaplastic breast cancer, a rare subtype that counts for only one percent of all breast cancer cases. At the time of her diagnosis, their son Felix was just 18 months old.

Karen’s journey has been fraught with challenges, as she has dealt with two different types of cancer simultaneously, each requiring distinct treatment approaches. Initially classified as HER2-positive, she underwent chemotherapy and a double mastectomy in 2021. Despite the surgery successfully removing her tumour, she later learned that the treatments had not been effective.

After remaining in remission for over two years, the cancer returned in late 2024, affecting her lymph nodes and skin. In early 2025, she began a combination of chemotherapy and pembrolizumab, an immunotherapy drug that showed remarkable success in shrinking the cancer. “It was working,” she stated. “And that’s the first time that that has been the case for me.”

Despite the treatment’s efficacy, Ollier’s access to pembrolizumab was denied post-surgery due to her diagnosis not fitting the criteria for coverage in Canada. While the drug is approved for triple-negative breast cancer, Ollier’s specific condition does not qualify. Her medical team suggested continuing with an additional 13 doses of the drug, each costing approximately $10,000. Appeals for coverage, supported by oncologists from the BC Cancer Foundation, were unsuccessful.

Faced with this financial burden, Ollier’s family launched a GoFundMe campaign aiming to raise $130,000 to cover the treatment costs. The campaign has garnered significant support, reaching nearly its full goal within two weeks. “It’s been emotional, but it’s been an incredibly uplifting thing to do,” Ollier expressed, reflecting on the overwhelming support from friends, neighbours, and even individuals who were previously unaware of her situation.

Ollier resumed her immunotherapy treatments on August 7, 2025, following a three-month hiatus after surgery. In addition to her ongoing cancer treatment, she recently completed 15 sessions of radiotherapy over three weeks in Vancouver. The distance from Pemberton necessitated her temporary relocation to Squamish, away from her family, further complicating an already challenging situation.

Ollier’s parents initially covered the cost of her first doses, and she hopes to repay them if donations exceed the campaign’s target. Her motivation remains clear: “My son, my family,” she emphasized. “We have so much to live for. We live on a farm here in Pemberton. We’re planting out apple trees—we have about 700 apple trees planted. We have big plans for this place.”

The couple operates Hand-in-Hand Farm, where they recently hosted a wedding and are planning to establish a cidery. “It would be good to be able to see it through,” Ollier noted.

Offering advice to others in similar situations, Ollier stressed the importance of having a strong medical team. “You really need to have the oncologists and the surgeons and everyone that’s there helping you through this,” she advised. “GoFundMe for us was our last resort. We exhausted all other options.”

In recognition of Ollier’s situation, friends are organizing an in-person fundraiser on September 18, 2025, at Mile One Eating House. The event, running from 17:00 to 21:00, will feature a raffle with prizes donated by local businesses, including Whistler Bungee and Scandinave Spa. The restaurant will additionally contribute by donating $1 from every meal purchased during the event.

As the community rallies around the Ollier family, supporters continue to express their generosity and compassion. “The outpouring of generosity and kindness from the Pemberton and Whistler businesses we have reached out to, has been amazing,” stated Laura Joce, a friend of the family. While the GoFundMe campaign has set a $100,000 goal, Joce highlighted that ongoing medical treatments and other related costs will still require continued support.

Karen Ollier remains grateful for the backing of her community as she navigates this challenging journey. “To know that we are going to get the full 13 is really fantastic,” she concluded. “We feel incredibly lucky to be surrounded by such an amazing community.”