The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation and SickKids Foundation have  17-year-old Carley Allison to thank for a recent boost in donations, spurred by a video of her singing a cover of One Direction’s “More Than This.” The Bayview Glen Private School student was recently diagnosed with a rare throat cancer that necessitated a tracheotomy. The YouTube piano cover has garnered more than 23,000 views as of March 21.

Allison said she has invited viewers to a make a donation. She also cut and donated her long hair to charity prior to receiving chemo therapy. Allison was scheduled for a surgery in March to remove the cancerous sarcoma, but doctors recommended postponing it to see if the tumor could be shrunk with chemo. If that is ineffective, she will receive surgery immediately.

Ever hopeful despite the stakes, she looks to her family for strength.

“It has taught me a lot about myself, my family and to appreciate everything for what it is,” said Allison. “It’s given me a different perspective.”

Allison expects to know if she has been responsive to treatments by April 2.