The family of a 16-month-old girl who died from leukemia this summer is fighting to keep her legacy alive by encouraging Canadians, aged 17 to 35, to sign up for the .
Marlie Curwin died in June, after a six-month battle with an aggressive form of leukemia. During that time, she inspired people in Maritime communities in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island to hold bone marrow registry and fundraising events that saw more than 1,400 people add their names to the national registry.
Marlie鈥檚 mother, Erin Curwin, told CTV Atlantic about the profound impact her daughter had on this cause.
鈥淪he had touched so many lives in a short time and had done so much in her 16 months of life that I couldn鈥檛 even dream about doing,鈥� Erin said.
The Curwins continue to urge Canadians to put their names on the registry to help others in need of donors.
鈥淲e need names on the registry for bone marrow,鈥� Marlie鈥檚 grandfather, Gary Curwin, said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not going to help Marlie, but it鈥檚 going to help other kids.鈥�
Dianne Shaw-MacAdam from the One Match Stem Cell and Bone Marrow Registry, said that volunteers may never receive a call to donate marrow if they sign up for the registry. She said if they do, it will most likely be to help someone with cancer or a blood disorder.
鈥淭hey (recipients) come to the registry at the end of their treatment,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t really is their last lifeline to come to the registry and seek a match.鈥�
As for the Curwins, they鈥檙e hoping to fill that registry with the names of potential donors so that another family won鈥檛 have to go through what they did with Marlie. Team Marlie plans to travel to Ottawa to participate in a rally in support of more funding for children鈥檚 cancer.
鈥淲hen she was living, she touched so many hearts,鈥� Gary said.
With a report from CTV Atlantic
