Just over one year after Mike and Cari Comboye lost their three-year-old son Liam to cancer, the family is ready to rally and make a difference in his honour.
In October 2017, Liam Comboye died from diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) B次元官网网址� a rare form of pediatric brain cancer that impacts the brain stem. The cancer is terminal and resistant to treatments like chemotherapy.
B次元官网网址淭he only thing they have for kids who have it is radiation and that just buys you a little more time,B次元官网网址� said Cari Comboye. B次元官网网址淲ith Liam it gave us an extra two months.B次元官网网址�
Comboye and her sister took it upon themselves to form a local chapter of the Cure Starts Now, a non-profit organization that was originally started in 2007 in the United States.
READ MORE: Remembering Liam Comboye: Family to set up non-profit for toddler who died of cancer
Upon LiamB次元官网网址檚 diagnosis, Comboye said she contacted the Cure Starts Now to see what could be done.
B次元官网网址淚 was like B次元官网网址榯his is just not right for there to be no treatment and youB次元官网网址檙e told your child is going to die,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Comboye said.
There are 40 chapters of the Cure Starts Now in the United States, all started by parents who lost a child to DIPG according to Comboye. Many of the parents just wanted to be able to do something to raise awareness about DIPG and fund research to find a cure.
B次元官网网址淵ou can either choose to be angry and miserable or put that energy into something good,B次元官网网址� Comboye said.
In June, Comboye was able to find a lawyer and board members and the non-profit is now a registered corporation as well as the first chapter in Canada.
In about one week, they will be holding their first fundraiser in support of DIPG research.
On Dec. 9, the Cure Starts Now will hold a pancake breakfast with Santa and super heroes at the Royal Oak WomenB次元官网网址檚 Institute Hall.
Batman B次元官网网址� who visited Liam a few times when he was in hospital B次元官网网址� will be there along with other super heroes to read and sing songs with children at the event.
READ MORE: Greater Victoria rallies behind boy battling cancer
Professional photos with Santa and the heroes will also be available.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e hoping to spread awareness about this horrible tumor that took Liam away too early,B次元官网网址� Comboye said.
The founders of the Cure Starts Now B次元官网网址� Keith and Brook Desserich B次元官网网址� will also fly in from Cincinnati, Ohio to show their support for the family and for the first Canadian chapter of the organization.
B次元官网网址淟iam is basically the face of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 DIPG warriors now so itB次元官网网址檚 huge,B次元官网网址� Comboye said. B次元官网网址淲e hope to grow and hopefully chapters will open up under us.B次元官网网址�
Comboye said family, friends and community members have come together to support the ComboyeB次元官网网址檚 and honour Liam.
B次元官网网址淭his is LiamB次元官网网址檚 legacy,B次元官网网址� Comboye said in tears. B次元官网网址淗e always said he wanted to help people and this is his way of helping people.B次元官网网址�
The pancake breakfast fundraiser in honour of Liam Comboye will take place on Dec. 9 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Royal Oak WomenB次元官网网址檚 Institute Hall. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for kids age five and over and free for kids under five.
LiamB次元官网网址檚 page for the Cure Starts Now can be found .
Details about the pancake breakfast can be found
shalu.mehta@goldstreamgazette.com
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