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Donations sought for boy

Donations are being sought to help with the expenses of a six-year-old Summerland boy who is going through a series of heart surgeries.

Donations are being sought to help with the expenses of a six-year-old Summerland boy who is going through a series of heart surgeries.

Karsen Skoczylas has been in Vancouver for months at a time for six operations, four of which were open-heart surgeries.

He was born with a ventricular septal defect which consisted of two holes in his heart. He underwent his first surgery when he was nine days old. The holes were successfully closed, but a problem with his aortic valve was not repaired.

His mother, Mesha Skoczylas, has been putting her life and work on hold to deal with her little boy’s health complications. Friends of the family are trying to raise some money to help with expenses. Donations are being accepted at the Summerland Soleil Tanning Salon at 1-13219 North Victoria Rd.

A dance class planned for next week will also raise money for the family as well as for Summerland’s dry grad. It is a Zumba dance class at Summerland Middle School Feb. 18 from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. Helping teach the class will be members of the Summerland Steam. Proceeds from the tickets will be split between the family and the dry grad.

The salsa dance fitness class for adults is usually taught on Monday and Wednesday nights by Mary Ann Chartrand.