Sebastian's Superheroes
It was March 19, 2009, the date of Sebastian’s fifth birthday, when the family first heard the word, Neuroblastoma. It was a word, and a diagnosis, that would change their lives forever.Sebastian began the fight of his life that day, a fight that would include tests, scans, procedures, surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation, clinical trials and a bone marrow transplant. Although most of his treatment took place at the Children’s Hospital of Western Ontario in London, his bone marrow transplant and some of his clinical trials took place under the care of doctors at SickKids.
During his treatment, Sebastian was a little fighter. “It was like he was never sick,” said his mom, Monica. “He was always laughing and playing jokes on the nurses. He would have his chemo and then run down the hallway squirting his water guns at people. He talked to everyone at the hospital and often liked to tell me ‘Mom, I’m famous. Everyone knows me.’”
“I reached out to a number of my friends to see if they would ever be interested in helping to fundraise for neuroblastoma research,” said Monica. “Everyone knew Sebastian and saw what he was going through and they all wanted to help. Before I knew it, I had 10 people interested in joining a committee to help make our fundraising come to life.”
The committee decided to kick-off their fundraising efforts with a gala event and Sebastian helped to develop the logo that would be used.
Sadly, Sebastian lost his battle with cancer on May 9, 2011, one week before the launch of their first event.
“Sebastian was a one-of-a-kind kid,” said Monica. “He always had a way of making everyone around him smile. His strength, energy and positive attitude has been, and will continue to be, an inspiration for us all.”
"Sebastian was a one-of-a-kind kid."
In its first year, Sebastian’s Superheroes raised $104,591.20 after setting a fundraising goal of $15,000. This year, the family will mark the fifth anniversary of that gala with ‘FIRE & ICE,’ which takes place on September 26 at The Portuguese Club of London. The fundraising goal for this year is $65,000 and the committee is thrilled that they are already 50 per cent of the way there.
“Our community, the schools, the churches … everyone has been so amazing in supporting our family,” said Monica.
To date, Sebastian’s Superheroes has raised $371,636.09 in support of The Sebastian Oliveira Drug Discovery Project for Neuroblastoma Research. The family looks forward to growing that number on September 26.
“Neuroblastoma research is where funds are needed,” said Monica. “We have had the opportunity to tour the neuroblastoma lab and meet the researchers at SickKids. We know the impact our fundraising can have on their work.”
About 80 children are diagnosed with neuroblastoma every year in Canada. Neuroblastoma has a survival rate of 40 per cent. If you would like to help the Oliveira family in raising funds for neuroblastoma research, please consider donating online to Sebastian’s Superheroes. Or, if you have a free evening on September 26 and want to enjoy a four-course meal, live band and silent auction all for a good cause, please visit Sebastian’s Superheroes website to purchase tickets.
UPDATE - October 2018: The Sebastian’s Superheroes Committee thanks you for your continued support. Since beginning our mission in October 2010, we have raised $676,940.89 for The Sebastian Oliveira Drug Discovery Project for Neuroblastoma Research, located at the James Birrell Neuroblastoma Research Lab at The Hospital for Sick Children.
