LOYAL friends of Bob Boutique owner Sonia Brit have volunteered their time to ensure the business can open at weekend in the lead up to Christmas.
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The quirky store had been closed since March until it reopened at the start of November.
Sonia was originally diagnosed with an astrocytoma brain tumour in 2012. After surgery and treatment she spent almost seven years living with cancer only to find in 2019 it had grown back.
Sonia said while this year has been difficult for everyone, she was happy to have the store open at all this year.
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"The only reason we have been able to open at all, is because of my beautiful friends who have given up their weekends to help me through this time," she said.
"We are so grateful that we have so many loyal customers. When the shop has been closed we have had customers buy online which is such a help.
"Through COVID we really hope that this has given people an opportunity to realise how important local shopping is.
"There are so many beautiful shops and people who work so hard to make your shopping experience amazing, take advantage of them and come out feeling better for the experience and knowing that you are keeping money locally."
This year has also seen Sonia working to regain her motion and cognitive functions.
"It has been difficult as my heath has been a big road block," she said. "My physical difficulties are ongoing and I am working hard on what I can do to get more independent.
"Treatments - they are ongoing. We still need to physically go to the hospital for essential MRI's, blood tests and physical and cognitive therapies. Whenever possible we use tele-health which has been wonderful during COVID."
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A GoFundMe page for Sonia and her family helped her get into a clinical trial but rehab, treatment and medical expense remain difficult to fund.
"As people will know the money was for the treatment and trial up in Sydney," she said. "Financially this took everything we had (and more) just to get us there and the rest has been for medical cannabis and rehabilitation for my many issues after the brain surgery.
"I cannot even begin to know how to thank the generosity of people who have supported me in so many ways during the last 18 months especially.
"It is always such a surprise when I get a donation on the go fund me page - I still cry with happiness when I read it - or a person buying a little gift from the shop when they can, to help me out, is so lovely."
Bob Boutique is open weekends from 10am to 3pm. They are selling bob wrapping paper for $1 with all money going to brain cancer research.