SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. - Pacey MacIsaac, finds the silver lining with his family and friends by sharing random acts of kindness in memory of good friend, Becca Schofield.
MacIsaac first met Schofield, a teen who inspired a global kindness movement, while attending Camp Goodtime in N.S.
“It’s a camp where children affected with cancer gather for a week of fun, adventure and friendship in a safe and medically supervised environment,” he said.
Pacey was first diagnosed with leukemia when he was three-years-old.
“I went through treatment and in remission for about six months. I then relapsed with leukemia and cancer of the central nervous system. That continued until I was 10,” he said, now age 17 and free and clear of the disease.
He continued, “I met Becca at the camp and found she faced her consequences head on. She knew what was going to happen and instead of being upset and depressed about it, she continued on with life and lived it to the fullest.”
Schofield recently passed away in a Moncton hospital after a long battle with terminal brain cancer.
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Pacey, along with family and friends, attended her funeral.
“The eulogy girl said if Terry Fox had been able to run from the east coast to the west coast and survived we might have forgotten him, but his journey lives on every day,” said Pacey’s dad, Stephen, a close friend of the Schofield family.
“It’s very humbling to see what Becca went through and seeing what Pacey went through. She had no choice, and he had no choice. It’s just the cards they were dealt and some you win and some you lose, I guess.
“But we are very fortunate that Pacey is still here and thankful. Although I’m glad Becca is not suffering anymore,” he said.
To honour Shofield’s final wish and keep her dream alive, supporters will continue to share acts of kindness on social media because #BeccaToldMeToo.
“Acts of kindness can involve anything from paying for someone’s order at a drive through, just buying someone a coffee, saying ‘hello,’ and holding the door for them,” said Stephen, who has carried through with these acts of kindness.
“It makes you feel so much better knowing that people, love, care and support you,” added Pacey.
Kamden Arsenault has been by his friend Pacey’s side through all the highs and lows.
“It was difficult when I was young because I didn’t understand what was happening. I would see my friend in the hospital and think, ‘OK he’s not doing well.’ But I was not aware it was a life-threatening disease, where stuff could happen, and he may not be there tomorrow.
“But as you get older you start to thank the Lord that they are actually there and that they made it. It was rough, but at the same time it was the same thing with Becca. It’s not fun to go through, but you stay their friend because you love them,” said Arsenault.
Stephen concluded, “It’s a blessing.”
Followers can continue Shoefield’s legacy by continuing to show the world kindness, one hashtag at a time.
For more information, visit www.beccatoldmeto.ca.
