13-year-old who met Ryan Reynolds in Edmonton dies after cancer battle

A young boy originally from Newfoundland who was being treated for cancer passed away at his home in Edmonton.

The Kids With Cancer Society confirmed 13-year-old Connor McGrath died Tuesday. He was battling leukemia.

A fundraising effort was launched last year to try to help him get access to experimental treatment in the United States for his rare form of leukemia.

In February, Global News spoke to Connor about meeting actor Ryan Reynolds, who has the starring role in a movie based on the teen’s favourite comic, Deadpool.

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“It was astonishing- I was speechless,” Connor said. “He’s a really nice guy.”

READ MORE: Ryan Reynolds comes to Edmonton with Deadpool movie for boy in hospital

The Vancouver-born actor posted to his Facebook account that Connor saw the movie before anybody else.

“Ladies, gentlemen, boys and girls. This is my friend, Connor McGrath. He’s quite possibly the biggest #Deadpool fan on earth,” the post read. “He was also the first person ever to see the Deadpool film. Like Wade Wilson, Connor’s trying to put cancer in his rearview mirror.”

With just a handful of other people, Connor got to watch Deadpool with Reynolds and said when the actor left, he promised to keep in touch and held true to his word, exchanging emails.

READ MORE: ‘I was speechless’: Edmonton teen speaks out about visit from Ryan Reynolds 

On Sunday afternoon, Connor’s father, Gerald McGrath, posted this message on Facebook:

“If you got family hold them and tell them that you love them love you Connor McGrath.”

With files from The Canadian Press and VOCM