Calgary family holds cancer fundraiser for late daughter

Evelyn Roy was only 11 years old when she lost her battle with neuroblastoma, a form of cancer that affects nerve tissue.

Evelyn’s family is still keeping her memory alive, celebrating what would have been her 14th birthday while raising funds for the Calgary Cancer Centre.

“She just had this incredible ability to make everybody around her feel significant and loved and important,” Evelyn’s mother, Heather Roy said.

“As a parent who has lost a child, my biggest fear is always that someone will stop speaking her name one day. And by doing projects like this we’re building her legacy and we’re ensuring that people will always remember all the goodness that she brought.”

Evelyn Roy’s mother Heather Roy. (Jillian Code, CityNews)

The Roy family has a goal of raising $1 million in Evelyn’s name, helping other kids going through the same experience she went through.

“Evelyn, when she went for her first session of radiation treatment, it was very hard and it was a quite traumatic experience and as she left, she just felt like ‘I wish there was someone here who made this better.’”

Roy says the aim of this year’s fundraiser was to help the Calgary Cancer Centre hire a child life specialist.

“They provide coping tools, strategies, and provide trauma-informed care so they have the best experience possible,” Roy said.

Every aspect of the fundraiser incorporated things that Evelyn loved: Princesses, music, Ghostbusters, and an appearance from Bikers Against Bullying.

A girl and a woman dressed up as princesses at Evelyn Roy’s memorial fundraiser. (Jillian Code, CityNews)

“Evelyn loved dancing, and she loved being with her friends and her family. She loved things like cotton candy, she loved star wars. This is just all of her stuff,” Roy said.

This was the third celebration in Evelyn’s honour, Roy estimates they’ve raised around $200,000 over the years, cementing the legacy Evelyn has left on those around her.