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Saturday bottle drive will honour Keian's memory

Langley boy who died of cancer at age six spent his final weeks ensuring other hospitalized children received toys at Christmas.
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At the young age of six, cancer took the life of Keian Blundell, but his giving and compassionate spirit lives on. His parents are holding a bottle drive for kids with cancer Nov. 21 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at George Preston Rec Centre.

Keian Blundell lost his life to cancer at just six years old, but his spirit and all the goodness he shared before he died lives on.

His parents, Chantal and Ryan, are once again putting on Team Keian's bottle drive, on Saturday, Nov. 21 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the George Preston Recreation Centre, 20699 42 Ave.

All the funds raised benefit families affected by childhood cancer.

Chantal said it is fitting to bring the bottle drive back to George Preston. It was there that friends of the Blundells held the first bottle drive for them, when Keian's cancer returned in 2013.

The Blundells both quit their jobs and moved into a trailer in the B.C. Children's Hospital parking lot to be at the bedside of their ailing son.

The Langley community rallied around them, with such a tremendous response that special trucks were needed to cart the thousands upon thousands of donated bottles and cans to the recycle depot.

In the end, more than $5,000 was raised.

Now the Blundells have moved back to Langley, where Keian went to preschool and Kindergarten. It's always been home, said Chantal.

The Blundells, along with their other son Joren, will be at the bottle drive and Chantal said they are thankful for the support shown by the community.

"We know Keian would be so proud that we are continuing his goal to help other kids going through cancer," said Chantal.

The Blundells are also continuing another idea of Keian's.

While in his last months of living at Children's Hospital, Keian decided he wanted to bring toys to kids who were spending Christmas in the hospital. Two weeks before he passed away, he managed to deliver those toys.

Now Keian's Holiday Wish Toy Drive lives on.  Last year, the Blundells were able to deliver more than 1,500 toys to sick boys and girls last Christmas.

Langley residents wishing to contribute a new toy can drop it off at Keian's former preschool West Langley Elementary at 9603 212 St. until Dec. 11. Those toys will be delivered by the Blundells to B.C. Children's and Canuck Place Children's Hospice. If you have any questions or need additional information email team@teamkeian.com



Monique Tamminga

About the Author: Monique Tamminga

Monique brings 20 years of award-winning journalism experience to the role of editor at the Penticton Western News. Of those years, 17 were spent working as a senior reporter and acting editor with the Langley Advance Times.
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