"A woman courageously faces every battle that comes her way with an unwavering faith that touches the lives of everyone she knows."

A small-town farm in Thompson Falls, Montana. 13-year-old Tina is diagnosed with Stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma with less than two months to live. The news does nothing to dull her bright outlook on life and only strengthens her resolve to live. However, her adopted parents Marge & Lonnie grow bitter at the growing attention on Tina’s health and the stranglehold of bills hanging over her and her husband’s finances. Tina finds solace from the unrelenting abuse in her fairytales and her unwavering faith that things will get better.

Now in remission, Tina meets her high school sweetheart Craig, but what should be a new beginning for Tina spirals out of control with the worsening threats from her increasingly abusive parents. As Tina’s relationship with Craig continues to blossom, so does her willpower to fight back against her parents, causing her to navigate a tricky balance of rebellion and keeping her love with Craig safe before she graduates high school, escapes her parents and marries Craig.

Tina, now 44, is living the life of her dreams with a flourishing career and loving husband. But she is thrust into battle and her faith tested yet again when diagnosed with Stage 4 Breast Cancer. Drawing on childhood experience and the support of family and friends, Tina embarks on a final journey of courage, hope, and faith with a strength that touches everyone around her.

Sunshine Girl is inspired by the life of Tina MacLachlan and written by her husband Craig MacLachlan. Tina met Craig in high school not long after entering remission from Stage 4 Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Their relationship continued to flourish throughout high school despite having to keep the true nature of their love and commitment to one another downplayed and hidden from Tina’s adoptive parents.

The pair married at age 21 where they spent the next twenty-three years living together, laughing together and overcoming every battle together. Tina became an addictions counselor at STARS (Spokane Treatment & Recovery Services) and moved her way up within the company to become the Clinical Supervisor and Department Head of Karen’s House where she compassionately helped treat women with co-occurring disorders. When Tina was diagnosed with Stage 4 Breast Cancer at age 44, she never lost faith, even when it threatened to steal her away from work. Her colleagues donated their vacation and sick time so that Tina could make all her chemotherapy appointments and treatments and take needed time off from her job even when she didn’t want to.

Below is a clip from Tina's interview with KHQ News. 

1 in 2 people get cancer in their life. Tina was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma at 13 and then Breast Cancer at 44. We are committed to not only raising awareness of cancer research but also those living with this disease and their close family and friends. Cancer treatment and therapy can put a huge financial strain on families which on top of the emotional pressure is simply too much to handle without external support. That is why 50% of any profits made from Sunshine Girl will be donated and split between three cancer charities.

In reality, Tina was not adopted and lived happily with her parents Frances and Donald. As an adult, Tina focused on her work as a mental health counselor and discovered before she passed a relationship between abused children with life-threatening illnesses and their parents who exhibited mental health and/or drug and alcoholism. Craig decided to intertwine this passion and ambition of Tina’s to help those who suffered into our film. We are using Tina’s story as a vehicle to raise awareness of child abuse by having her birth parents pass away as a baby and being adopted by Marge and Lonnie. It's really important that we depict this realistically, whilst also sensitively, to show that abuse rarely starts physically. We want people to be able to pick up on the signs before it develops into something far more dangerous.

At its heart, Sunshine Girl is a Christian film. Tina's faith was tested multiple times throughout her life but never once did she lose hope. Her love and devotion to Christ is what kept the smile on her face throughout every battle she faced. Tina touched everyone she met with her compassion and kindness. Her heart was the size of the ocean and she had time for everyone. As a young girl, Tina found solace in nature when she was left isolated on the farm. She would read her fairytales to the farm animals in the barn and confided in them like best friends.

Our budget for Sunshine Girl is $50,000.  We are fundraising for 30% or more of that goal which is $15,000. The remaining 70% we are sourcing through personal investment and private sponsorship from some extremely kind and generous individuals and small businesses. 

$50,000 seems like a LOT of money, we know, it really it is! But the average independent feature's budget is just under one million. We're really cutting costs wherever we can and are so fortunate to have such a generous team on board, donating their talent and hard work. We're hoping that by donating some of your hard-earned money, sharing our campaign on your social media, talking to family and friends and colleagues, that you truly feel you are apart of creating and bringing this film to fruition. Because you are. None of this would be possible without you and we truly thank you from the bottom of our hearts. 

Filmmaking is not a cheap process! There are so many elements to consider when budgeting a feature film. The crew costs, kit hire, expenses (travel, catering and lodging) and of course the locations, props and costume.

So much of Tina's story revolves around her battles with cancer and it is important that we depict this truthfully on all levels. This involves hiring hair & make-up artists experienced with bald cap work and hospital locations that fit the demands of cancer treatment. We also set ourselves the additional challenge of following Tina's life from childhood. This means that 2/3rds of our film is set in the 1980-90s so we are going about arranging for props & costume that fit in with this time period. 

CREW:

CAST:

We need you to come and be a part of our Sunshine Girl film family. Help us tell this important story. We can't do this without you. Tina's story can't be told without you. We have several exciting perks that we hope will grab your attention, but please don't hesitate to drop us a line if there is a perk you would like to see. The magnitude of what you can help all of us achieve is indescribable. What we can create together can truly be a gamechanger. Come and be a part of this!

If you really can't donate, which we completely understand after the year we've all had, there are so many other ways for you to be a part of this. 

1. Donate your time: If you are a local and have a few days to spare in September/October then we would be so grateful if you could come on board as a runner to help us out (no experience required!). 

2. Share on Social Media: Please share our campaign (www.igg,me/at/sunshinegirl) all over social media with friends and family. We would be so extremely grateful if you could help us spread the word!

Thank you so much for your time - we can't wait to welcome you on board. Please don't hesitate to ask any questions that you may have!