Charleigh Pollock
Charleigh Pollock is a nine-year-old girl from British Columbia who suffers from Batten disease, a rare and fatal neurodegenerative disorder. She gained attention in the news due to her family's struggle to secure funding for a medication called Brineura, which is crucial for managing her condition. Despite the high cost of approximately $1 million per year and the family's advocacy, the B.C. Health Minister upheld a decision that denied coverage for the drug, leaving her family heartbroken and desperate for alternatives.
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Recent news mentions
Charleigh Pollock is a 10-year-old B.C. girl who suffers from a rare disorder called Batten disease.
Is denying a drug to a terminally ill 10-year-old cruel – or is it good governance?
Canada· 2025-07-30
Charleigh Pollock is the only person in B.C. with Batten Disease, for whom the drug funding was restored.
B.C. health minister apologizes to family of 10-year-old girl with rare diseaseCanada· 2025-07-18
Funding for a nine-year-old girl who has an extremely rare neurodegenerative disease has been restored by the British Columbia government.
Minister restores drug funding for B.C. girl with rare diseaseCanada· 2025-07-18The girl is the only one with Batten disease in the province and fewer than 20 people have it in Canada.
Health minister upholds decision to deny rare-disease funds for B.C. girlCanada· 2025-07-12