James Birrell

James Birrell was a normal 3 year old boy until the devastating diagnosis of neuroblastoma turned his life upside down. We’ve never known a kid battling childhood cancer who didn’t dig deep into themselves, and find a kind of strength and hope that makes adults marvel and weep all at the same time. James was no exception.

It was James who refused to accept that not enough research was being done into neuroblastoma, and it was he who inspired everyone to keep going during some very bad days.

James believed that life was an adventure, and that every day should be lived to the fullest. James made a bucket list before the phrase had even been coined and crossed everything off it he could. He hung out on set with the Kratt Brothers of his favourite TV show Zoboomafoo and befriended the star of his favourite movie Apollo 13, which told the true story of astronauts coming back to earth against all odds. Tom Hanks is now The James Fund’s Honorary Patron.

Although desperately ill and in terrible pain, James built a soap box derby racer with his friend “Big James” and entered a race, making the finals and spinning out in spectacular fashion with a great big smile plastered on his face the whole time.

James took an active role in his treatment, wanting to understand as much as he could about what was happening. When MDS Nordion lost a shipment of isotopes necessary for a critical test, James sat down and wrote the company, winning a corporate supporter for The James Fund and a tour of the facility.

James was famous for his hugs. He made friends easily and showered affection on those he knew were trying to help him. And once you’d had a James hug, there was no walking away from the cause. He loved easily and freely and made all things seem possible in one of his smiles.

Kids battling cancer have a wisdom well beyond their years and James was no exception. He wasn’t about to let illness ruin a perfectly good adventure and came up with what became the family motto: “Ya Can’t Let Cancer Ruin Your Day.” The slogan inspired James’ dad to write a book of the same name which became a Canadian best seller. Tom Hanks wrote the foreword.

At the age of 8 and nearing the end of his all too short life, James promised that he would “always be fighting cancer.” He urged his friends and family to keep working for a day when the scientists “figured it all out” and no other little child would die.

He believed a day was coming that would be free of childhood cancer. We believed with him then. And we believe now.

Do you?