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...Continued

Mike dreamed of becoming a sportscaster, but the disease continued to deteriorate his muscles until he couldn't even lift his hands to his mouth. On June 12, 1984, the day he was supposed to graduate from the Mackay Centre, Mike died.

Today, the Michael Reid Memorial Resource Centre at the Mackay Centre provides information on different children's diseases to help parents and staff better understand them. The Michael Reid Foundation also sponsors a multitude of field trips and the Michael Reid Memorial Award is presented annually to a student who displays honesty, compassion, friendliness and exceptional determination.

"I'm proud of what's happened since Mike died and what's been done in his memory," Frank Reid said.

Sharon Bradwell, who moved from Dorval to Toronto with her husband, Ken, in 1997, is also proud of the money raised in her daughter's memory and has set a goal of reaching the $1-million mark one day.

"I'm happy that Sian's name is being kept alive and that positive things are being done. I've played sports all my life and there's nothing better to me than seeing people having some fun playing sports and at the same time trying to help people who can't enjoy sports in the same way," said Sharon, who used to be a member of the Kirkland softball league.

Sharon returns to Montreal every year for the memorial softball tournament and after it wraps up on the Sunday night she makes a visit to Sian's grave in Pointe Claire.

"It gives me a very peaceful feeling," she said.

To learn more about the Sian Bradwell Fund for children with cancer, visit the Web site at www.sianbradwell.com. To learn more about the Mackay Centre School, visit the Web site at www.emsb.qc.ca/mackay/