When Kalitha Huggett decided to hold a fundraiser for dance student Taryn Ramsay she was hoping for $5000.
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On Friday night, she more than tripled her initial goal, raising in excess of $17,000.
The money will go to Taryn and her family after the 16-year-old was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma.
"Two months ago she was dancing with us and healthy and then one week she had a minor seizure at the studio and then again the next day at school. Two days later she was having chemo," Ms Huggett said.
After hearing the news, the Urban Edge Dance Studios principal said the least she could do was help raise money for the family that had been so supportive of her.
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At first a GoFundMe page was established to help her raise money for a good-quality wig. The community dug deep to reach $3000.
Dubbo rallied for the teen again on Friday night.
"The family aren't originally from here and they haven't been in Dubbo long but I think with her being a minor it's had a huge impact on the community," Ms Huggett said.
"Our dance studio got behind them and her netball club and Macquarie Anglican Grammar jumped on board as well.
"We've had support from everywhere. There are businesses that I've never even met that donated."
The principal said she was blown away by the level of support the fundraising campaign had received. The Ramsay family were overwhelmed on Friday night to see how much had been raised.
Taryn is halfway through her four months of chemotherapy, travelling back and forth between Dubbo and Sydney while she undergoes treatment.
Despite that, she's still going to dancing twice a week.
"She's not able to dance because she can't get her heart rate up and she has a central line inserted into her chest. But the doctors are encouraging her to give her something to do," Ms Huggett said.
Throughout everything she's stayed strong.
"She was pretty positive about the whole thing but you can see her body is tired. She's tired of everything she's been going through," Ms Huggett said.
Ms Huggett said she was grateful to everyone who helped make Friday night's fundraiser a success, including all the business who donated items or their time.
Donations for Taryn can still be made through the GoFundMe page: gofundme.com/support-taryn-ramsay.
Orlander Ruming
Deputy editor at the Daily Liberal, covering council, politics, human interest stories, community news and everything in between.
Deputy editor at the Daily Liberal, covering council, politics, human interest stories, community news and everything in between.
