Aaron Jingyi Chen (2010-2023) passed away at Sickkids on January 12, 2023, after having fought a brave battle with Leukemia for more than three years (more details about his life and memorial foundation can be found at https:/aaronchenfoundation.org). Throughout this extremely difficult period and despite his young age (and he had just turned nine when first diagnosed in 2009), he did not complain about the constant pains and but remained grateful to his family and all the people who had helped him. Shortly before his passing, he, with labored breathing due to severe infection with his lungs, took the precious remaining moments not to dwell on his personal circumstances but remarked: “Now, it is where I give thankyou to all my friends, all my teachers, and all the people who have supported me along the way, and all the doctors and nurses at Sickkids. These people helped so many different people, and what they do is amazing.” All those at Sickkids who had a chance to even briefly meet Aaron unanimously praised him for being a very brave boy and a great patient who was poised, considerate, and thankful to all the medical staff regardless of his own pain and distress.

Besides his gentle heart and resilience, Aaron was also talented in piano, writing and chess and had won multiple prizes for both piano after a short period of training and for chess without formal coaching. Having received certificates of academic achievements for several years in a row before his first diagnosis in addition to certificates for his character, he was loved by his teachers as well as his school friends. 

To honor his memory and his wishes to give others another chance that Aaron himself sadly did not get, we hope to raise fund to help improve Sickkids’ medical services and treatment of Leukemia and other life-threatening illnesses for the benefit of other kids and families. By this fundraising campaign, we also hope to further raise public awareness of the deadly danger of Leukemia that could affect people of all ages and call for far more public resources to develop safer and better treatment. This fundraising for the Sickkids Foundation is initiated by Aaron's family through the newly founded Aaron Chen Memorial Foundation, a non-profit organization registered with the Canadian federal government (more information about its nonprofit initiatives available at https://aaronchenfoundation.org). Thank you all for your support.