Justin Trudeau recognizes NB teen fighting cancer because #BeccaToldMeTo

A Riverview, N.B. teen says she’s still in shock after receiving a message of support from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Trudeau tweeted to Becca Schofield on Wednesday.

“It’s my pleasure to recognize Rebecca Schofield for her bravery, volunteerism & inspiring commitment to community,” Trudeau wrote on Twitter, along with Schofield’s signature hashtag #BeccaToldMeTo.

Seventeen-year-old Becca, who is fighting terminal brain cancer, was told in December she had three months to a year to live.

Since then, she started up the hashtag on social media to inspire people to complete acts of kindness. Schofield said Friday that Trudeau’s tweet shows how much of an impact it’s having.

“He’s the prime minister and just the fact that he knows my name is cool enough,” Schofield said.

“I was hoping for a reaction like the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, and… I think I got it.”

Becca’s mom Anne told Global News they had no idea Becca was on the prime minister’s radar.

Anne said the message just adds to what her daughter has been trying to do with her hashtag.

“She always says, ‘it benefits three people, the giver cause it feels great to give, the receiver cause it feels great to receive, and her because she gets to read it and it brightens her day,” Anne said.

In an email statement to Global News, Andrée-Lynn Hallé said Trudeau signed a special Volunteer Awards certificate for Becca, which will be presented by the teenager’s local MP “in the near future.”

“Her story is really inspiring and we wanted to support her efforts, so ESDC (Employment and Social Development Canada) was able to recognize all that she is doing with an ‘honorary’ award,” Hallé said. “The certificate the PM signed calls her an ‘honorary emerging leader.'”

Since its launch, Becca’s social media movement has since gone global, with people from as far as Australia, Spain and Japan completing kind acts and posting about them.

Recently, she received some good news – doctors told her in January that her brain tumours had shrunk to half the size.

READ MORE: NB terminally ill teen recreates favourite fairy tale, checks wish off bucket list

She’s also still crossing items off her bucket list, including a recent trip to Quebec City with her family by train to see the city and attend Carnaval de Quebec. She then went to Toronto to sightsee and watch an NHL game between the Dallas Stars and Toronto Maple Leafs.

*With files from Sean Previl and Paul Cormier, Global News