Markus Schouten was a typical Chilliwack teen. Youthful, full of life and never able to sit still. 

鈥淗e was a worker, he never just sat around,鈥� said his mother Jennifer. 鈥淗e was always doing something.鈥� 

But Markus鈥� typical life turned atypical in the blink of an eye. In February of 2021, he was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma 鈥� a form of pediatric cancer that affects about one in every 333,000 individuals. 

From there, Markus and his parents, Jennifer and Mike, endured a long road of treatment in hopes of fighting the disease. Markus tragically passed away on May 29, 2022 at Canuck Place Children鈥檚 Hospice in Vancouver. 

In his final days of hospice care, Markus was surrounded by loved ones, including his closest group of friends who were able to pay him one final visit. During the visit, Markus passed along his final dying wish to his buddies Cason Vandenberg, Marcus Dehaan, Eric Timmerman, Levi Vandeburgt, James Thalen and Lincoln Louwerse. He wanted them each to go get a new set of rollerblades to play hockey with so they could, in his words, 鈥渉ave something to do this summer other than watch your screens.鈥� 

The six boys not only made good on their promise to Markus and got themselves some rollerblades, they took it a step further. 

On Saturday, July 27 鈥� what would be Markus鈥� 21st birthday 鈥� the third annual Markus Schouten Memorial Roller Hockey Fundraiser is being held in Chilliwack, with proceeds going towards Canuck Place. 

The first running of the event went in July of 2022, just months after Markus鈥� passing.

The inaugural event was considered a highly successful one, eclipsing their goal of raising $10,000 by bringing in well over $20,000. Last year's fundraiser did even better, bringing in another $40,000 bringing the total amount raised to closer to $60,000. 

The success of the event was something both Markus鈥� parents have cherished dearly. 

鈥淭he real focus is that these kids are the ones organizing it,鈥� said Jennifer. 鈥淲ell, I mean they鈥檙e all 21 now but they鈥檙e the ones that have organized this big fundraiser. 

鈥淭here鈥檚 not a lot of parental involvement, and I think that鈥檚 really cool.鈥�

Both Mike and Jennifer became emotional when asked about what that meant to them. 

But their level of appreciation extends beyond just his caring group of friends. With Markus鈥� spending the final days of his life in Canuck Place, it鈥檚 a location held very dear to his parents鈥� hearts. 

鈥淚t was huge for us,鈥� said Mike. 鈥淥ur involvement with Canuck Place started earlier in Markus鈥� journey and already we were very thankful even though at the time we were hopeful Markus would beat the cancer. They鈥檙e an organization that cares so much for the children.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e very sensitive, compassionate and caring and when it came time for Markus to go into the hospice care home, they ensured that he passed away as well as you can when you have a disease like cancer.鈥�

Approaching this year鈥檚 event, the goal was to raise $40,000 in hopes of eclipsing $100,000 since its first year. As of Wednesday (July 24) the boys have raised almost $90,000, with many donations as large as $1,000.

Like Markus鈥� parents, the group of boys remain grateful for the care their friend received at Canuck Place. 

鈥淢arkus only spent a few days there but the care they provided was top notch,鈥� they write on their fundraiser page. 鈥淲e feel called to help them and in this small way remember our good friend who is now with Jesus.鈥�

The event set to run Saturday (July 27) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 5840 Blackburn Rd. in Chilliwack. Donations are actively being accepted with anyone wanting to help out able to do so on their donation .