Eva

Submitted by Stan

Anyone who has been part of the Vancouver Cystic Fibrosis community, and judging by the huge response to her own journal, many, many people around the world, have been deeply moved by the incredible life story of Eva Markvoort, a young woman with Cystic Fibrosis. Her courage, poetic eloquence and intimate portrait of her struggle through an award winning documentary, called 65 Red Roses shown on CBC's The Passionate Eye last fall, and journal, at http://65redroses.livejournal.com,  have captivated and inspired thousands of people around the world.

I learned a few minutes ago that this beautiful young woman passed away this morning at 9:30 AM, the result of chronic rejection of her double lung transplant in 2007.  Eva's family and her close friends, who have been with her 24 hours a day for these past several months while her condition deteriorated, are very much in my thoughts.  I can only say, on a very personal level, that our work through this upcoming ride is all the more important - not only to raise awareness and funds for Cystic Fibrosis research, but also hope. There is real reason for hope that improved outcomes and a cure for CF can be found, much more so now than only a few years ago.  I will be thinking of this, and of Eva, as I'm preparing for our ride this summer.

- Stan


UPDATES
- March 31st:  Since Eva's passing, published and broadcast tributes have come in from around the country and from thousands of people around the around. The Vancouver province published this article about Eva three days ago.
- April 2nd: A beautiful article appeared on the front page of the Vancouver Sun today, which you can find by clicking here.