Linda's Legacy

The Story Behind Linda’s Legacy

In November 2018, our 18-year-old daughter Erin was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) two months into her first year at university.  As parents, our world was turned upside down and we were overwhelmed with the gravity of the battle ahead.  

As a mother, Linda dropped everything and took charge.  She met with the doctors and nurses and coordinated around the clock support for Erin at the hospital – kept her company, held her hand and supported her in any way possible.  Linda was there with Erin for every meeting, test, and procedure. Every setback and every victory.

With a donor match from her big sister Kelly, Erin had a stem cell transplant in January 2019 and a full recovery by later that summer. She was able to resume her interrupted first year of university that fall. This is testament to the impact of the fundraising from previous years, and the resulting advancements in treatment which allowed Erin and so many other to continue with their lives.  And for that miracle, we are forever grateful.   

Following Erin’s recovery, Linda turned her focus and determination to raising awareness and donations for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada (LLSC) and their annual Light the Night fundraising event.  We attended the event in Toronto in 2019 and it was such a great and humbling experience. Over the last four years, Linda coordinated and led our team’s efforts, and through the generous donations by family and friends raised over $40,000.  

Then the unthinkable happened. In August of 2022, Linda was diagnosed with renal cancer on both kidneys. Tragically, the renal cancer spread much too fast, and Linda passed on January 18, 2023.   

It was her wish for us to keep supporting the LLSC and it is in her honour we have renamed our team Linda’s Legacy. 

The new team name is also to represent and illustrate the far-reaching impact any cancer diagnosis has not only on the patient, but also their immediate family. This impact is further felt throughout the patient’s extended families, their friends, and their colleagues.  It is why the work of the LLSC, as well as other cancer organizations are so vitally important to the health and well being of both our loved ones, and our communities. Linda understood this importance, which is why we carry on her legacy, and continue supporting LLSC that was so dear to her.

In 2020 when the pandemic hit, the Light The Night event was forever changed and the LLSCs research and patient programs were really in jeopardy. Linda was more determined than ever to continue her fundraising efforts and she nearly tripled what she had raised the year before. She was so inspiring to the local LLSC team that year, they created an award called the Ignite Award that was presented to Linda and her team for their efforts. 

After Linda’s passing and because of the continued inspiration that Linda brings to all of us, the LLSC changed the name of that award to the Linda Day Ignite Award. Linda’s legacy has been cemented and she will continue to inspire fundraisers, employees, caregivers and survivors moving forward.

Thank you to the LLSC for honouring Linda as you have and for the tremendous work that you do each day.  Now it is up to us to carry forward and honour Linda’s wish that more treatments and cures for blood cancers can be developed.

Thank you,

Linda’s loving daughters and husband