A Riverview, N.B. teen battling terminal brain cancer – whose request that people perform acts of kindness went global – has checked another item off her bucket list by recreating her favourite fairy tale.
READ MORE: New Brunswick teen with terminal cancer gets wish – #BeccaToldMeTo goes global
Surrounded by a large crowd of community supporters, Becca Schofield launched several Chinese lanterns along the Riverview waterfront, trying to replicate a scene from the Disney movie, Tangled. In the scene, the movie’s entire kingdom sends lanterns into the air as the main characters, Rapunzel and Flynn Rider, sing the movie’s theme song I See the Light.
“I wanted to let go of Chinese lanterns. But an event like this, I just did not expect,” said 17-year-old Schofield.
More than a thousand friends, family, fellow high school students and even strangers gathered to watch Schofield send the lanterns into the sky.
“To see that the community came together and made it happen for her and then they added the fireworks, which was amazing … She is going to have a glow on her face for days now from this,” said Schofield’s mother Anne.
The event was organized by several community groups, including Riverview High School and the local firefighters association, said Riverview firefighter Captain David Candy.
“It was about fulfilling a wish for Becca,” Candy said. “[She] has done so much not only locally but nationally and globally.”
#BeccaToldMeTo
Schofield’s request before the holidays had asked that people use the hashtag #BeccaToldMeTo when they performed acts of kindness.
READ MORE: #BeccaToldMeTo – Riverview teen with terminal cancer asks people to perform acts of kindness
Her friend Danielle Gregoire said since making her wish, Schofield has inspired goodness around the world.
“I am amazed every time another story comes out and I share it and I am like, my best friend is changing the world right now,” Gregoire said.
Schofield said to see so many people gather together to support her and her family was overwhelming.
“Pretty amazing to see the power that kindness can do. You just got to open your heart.”