The community is coming together on Saturday, March 28th, 2026, for Stand With Sluman, a fundraiser and dance in support of Chris Sluman, a husband, father, and well-loved member of our regional community, who was diagnosed on January 4th with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, an aggressive and fast-moving form of blood cancer.
Chris, his wife, Dr. Hailey Bertrand-Sluman, and their daughter, Briar, are well-known and deeply respected throughout the region, with strong ties to Powassan, North Bay, and Huntsville. Hailey is a veterinarian at Parkside Animal Hospital, and Chris is a farrier who has proudly served local horse owners, farms, and the broader animal community for years. They are the kind of people who show up for others, and now their community has the opportunity to show up for them.
What began as a suspected flu shortly after Christmas quickly escalated. Chris was hospitalized at the North Bay Regional Health Centre with a critically elevated white blood cell count and was transferred to Sudbury for urgent specialized treatment. He is currently undergoing treatment at Health Sciences North, with a long and difficult road ahead. With treatment expected to span years, Chris will be unable to work for the foreseeable future, leaving two self-employed people navigating an unimaginable financial reality.
Chris’s best chance of survival relies on two medications that are approved by Health Canada but are not covered under Ontario’s provincial drug funding for his specific diagnosis. Blinatumomab (Blina) requires four to five rounds at $100,000 each, and Ponatinib carries an additional cost of $75,000, bringing the total treatment expense to $575,000. In a meaningful show of support, the manufacturer of Blina has offered a 50% reduction, and the manufacturer of Ponatinib has offered 30% off, bringing the amount the community needs to raise to $330,000. This figure does not include the ongoing cost of renting a home near the hospital in Sudbury, travel expenses, or the significant loss of income for a family in which both partners are self-employed.
In response, friends, colleagues, and families from across Huntsville, North Bay, and surrounding areas have rallied with remarkable generosity. Stand With Sluman aims to help cover critical medical costs while surrounding the Sluman family with the kind of community strength they have always given to others.
Event Details
Date: Saturday, March 28th, 2026
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: Canvas Brewery Co., Huntsville, ON
Tickets: $30 in advance to [email protected] with “attending” in the message box, or “empty chair” if not attending.
Event highlights include:
• Live music from Holly Ballentine and The Sean Cotton Band
• Silent auction featuring items and services donated by local individuals and businesses
• Stand With Sluman merchandise available for purchase
Can’t Make It to Huntsville? You Can Still Stand With Sluman.
Online raffles are now open to anyone who wants to support Chris and his family from anywhere in the province. Three incredible prizes are up for grabs:
Raffle 1 – Leaf Tickets (valued at $500) Two tickets to Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Dallas Stars, Monday, April 13th, 2026, at 7:30 PM. Generously sponsored by Moose Delaney’s Sports Bar & Grill.
Raffle 2 – Cedar Strip Canoe (valued at $2,500) A stunning 16ft Old Town Cedar Strip Canoe, donated by Tim & Sonia Sluman. A true Northern Ontario dream prize.
Raffle 3 – Loaded Beer Fridge (valued at $800): A glass-front Danby Beer Fridge stocked with 12 cases of beverages. Sponsored by Sleeman and Ladybug Stables.
Tickets are $10 for one entry or $20 for three. To enter, send an e-transfer to [email protected] and include the name of the raffle you would like to enter. Ticket sales will end on March 27th, and winners will be announced at the March 28th event.
Silent auction donations are being accepted until March 19th. To contribute, email [email protected] for more information.
Huntsville has always been a community that shows up when it matters most. This is one of those moments. The goal is simple: surround a local family with strength, compassion, and financial relief during the fight of their lives.
For more information and event updates, visit:
https://www.facebook.com/share/18KmV2Hxxg
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Thank you for this article! The generosity of our communities that Chris and Hailey have helped out in the past are really coming together to help them! Please come out and support them and have a great time at a great Venue! We just can’t say thank you enough!