Jeneece Edroff

Jeneece Edroff is a phenomenal young lady with an inspiring story to tell.

Jeneece was diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis at the young age of three. The disease causes tumors to grow on nerve pathways anywhere in the body, and in Jeneece’s case, they are growing off almost every nerve root coming out from her spine. As a result, her vertebrae are extremely thin and unsupportive and she has had to wear a body brace to help better support her spine and alleviate some of her pain.

Over the years, Jeneece has undergone numerous painful surgeries and chemotherapy to help treat her tumors, and at one point doctors believed that she would never walk again, but she proved them wrong.

Now 15 years old, Jeneece continues to undergo treatments and surgeries, which help her attend school, spend time with her family and friends and of course, set ambitious goals, which she has proven time and time again that she can achieve.

Jeneece’s Dream for Jeneece Place

The ‘Penny Girl’

“I am a bit like a penny, by myself, I am not worth much, but with a little help and lots of pennies, you can achieve a lot. Every penny counts and even the smallest person can make a difference.” ? Jeneece Edroff

Jeneece knows exactly what it is like to spend hours and days in doctors’ offices and hospitals and her experiences over the years have helped her develop a mature understanding of the needs of other children just like her and the challenges their families face.

Just after her fifth birthday, Jeneece appeared on the Variety Show of Heart’s Telethon for the first time and at the age of seven she started her now famous penny drive. In that first year, Jeneece raised $164. The next year, with help she elicited from local media, she raised an incredible $27,000, which was matched on the telethon, bringing Jeneece’s total to $52,000. Buoyed by her success, she immediately set herself a new goal to raise $1 million. Now, at the age of 15, Jeneece has raised a phenomenal $1.5 million.

A new dream – Jeneece Place

Today, Jeneece has a new goal and a new dream that she is sharing with communities on Vancouver Island and throughout British Columbia in the hopes that they can help it become a reality. Her dream is to build Jeneece Place ? a home-away-from-home for children requiring medical services in Victoria ? ranging from surgeries at Victoria General Hospital to rehabilitation appointments at Queen Alexandra Centre to specialist appointments downtown ? and their families

Jeneece knows the critical need for this type of facility on Vancouver Island. She has experienced firsthand what it’s like to be away from her home and her friends while undergoing surgeries and treatments, and she is committed to making Jeneece Place a home-away-from-home that will help families stay close to one another during stressful times.

Inspiring others in the community

When not in school or in the hospital, Jeneece will likely be found fundraising for various charities including the Variety Club, the British Columbia Neurofibromatosis Foundation and the Canadian Cancer Society. Raising funds is important, but Jeneece also hopes that her efforts will have the ability to effect change in others and inspire them to fundraise and volunteer for causes they are passionate about in their community.

To learn more about Jeneece and her impressive accomplishments visit www.jeneece.com.