People around the globe are mourning the loss of a New Brunswick teen who used a social media hashtag to inspire acts of kindness.
Becca Schofield of Riverview died last evening at The Moncton Hospital after a battle with cancer at the age of 18.
Her family releasing a poignant statement, saying people around the world gave Becca the profound blessing of knowing in her too short life that she made a difference.
Karine and I are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Becca Schofield. https://t.co/OvwFWh1HQP pic.twitter.com/WnhiuRiq9r
— Brian Gallant (@BrianGallantNB) February 18, 2018
— Blaine Higgs (@BlaineHiggs) February 18, 2018
After being diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, the teen launched the #BeccaToldMeTo campaign as one of the items on her bucket list.
It was there she encouraged people around the world to perform random acts of kindness and post them online.
The campaign was recognized around the globe, including here in New Brunswick, where the third Saturday in September was proclaimed Becca Schofield Day.
The NB RCMP Family is saddened by the news of the passing of Becca Schofield. She continues to inspire people to be kind. #Beccatoldmeto pic.twitter.com/3FSfIBgbym
— RCMP New Brunswick (@RCMPNB) February 18, 2018
Becca’s family says people around the world gave her hope that all the good and bad of the past three years had a meaning, even when that was hard to see.
They say she never meant for the movement she inspired to be about her, but they want people to keep her dream alive and continue to look for ways to make the world better — one act at a time.
A celebration of Becca’s life will take place and the family says a date and time will be announced shortly.
We are deeply saddened to hear that Becca has passed. Becca fought her #braintumours while inspiring the world to perform Random Acts of Kindness. Her family have asked for some time to grieve in private, we ask that you honour their wishes, Be kind, #BeccaToldMeTo. pic.twitter.com/C7PvpJOt22
— Brain Tumour Fdn (@BrainTumourFdn) February 18, 2018
It is with heavy hearts that we have learned of the passing of Wish Child Becca Schofield, Saturday, February 17th. We wish to extend our deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to her entire family as they grieve the loss of their beloved daughter and sister. #beccatoldmeto pic.twitter.com/FBI78IqQM0
— NB Children’s Wish (@NBChildrensWish) February 18, 2018
Below is the full statement from the family of Becca Schofield:
The Schofield family is heartbroken to announce the passing of our beloved Becca.
Rebecca Schofield died Saturday evening, February 17, at The Moncton Hospital with her family at her side. She was 18.
If the love of a community actually had the medical power to cure childhood cancer, we believe Becca would have lived forever. While that wasn’t possible, we believe the countless acts of kindness Becca and her family have received from a community of caring people literally around the globe has at least helped soothe all of our souls.
You gave Becca strength and courage throughout her journey. You gave her the profound blessing of knowing in her too short life that she had made a difference. You gave her hope that all the good and the bad of the past three years had a meaning, even at times when that was hard to see. Our whole family has been lifted by your love, and we will continue to feel you holding us up in the hard journey ahead.
That said, our daughter never meant the #Beccatoldmeto movement she inspired to be about her.
Her legacy is not all the good that came our way. It is the thousands of acts of kindness that grew exponentially outward from our home in Riverview, spreading across North America and beyond. We hope that global community of caring people will continue to look for ways to make the world better one act at a time. We pray #Beccatoldmeto will live on. Keep her dream alive, and our beloved Becca will live forever. Be kind.
While we will forever appreciate how the public and the news media have been kind and generous to us in ways beyond measure, we nevertheless are asking for some time right now to grieve privately.
Funeral arrangements are in the care of Cobb’s Funeral Home, 330 Whitepine Road, Riverview, NB, www.cobbsfuneralhome.ca (869-2007). The date and time for a celebration of Becca’s life will be announced shortly.
