Improve Healthcare for Women, Children, and Youth

In memory of our son and brother, Rafe Harrison Nicoll, we are raising money for the IWK Health Centre in support of specialized care for women, children and youth from across the Maritimes.

In 2012, Rafe was born with Spinal Muscular Atrophy with Respiratory Distress (SMARD) - an incredibly rare genetic disease which meant that we had to say good-bye to our precious baby boy when he was almost 6 months old. The IWK helped us to bear an unbearable experience in so many ways, chief among them the tremendous care, compassion and expertise that the staff demonstrated at every turn.

Ours has been a quiet grief these many years, but this year we are hoping that by sharing Rafe's story, we can help the IWK in its mission to provide the very best in healthcare to other women and children in need.

We are turning to you, family, friends and colleagues to help us reach our goal of $15,000. Your donations will be collected by the IWK Foundation and earmarked for the Rafe Harrison Nicoll Endowment Fund. We have committed to grow this fund over time, and each year, the annual disbursement from the fund will be directed to the IWK Pediatric Intensive Care Unit's area of greatest need.

In honour of your support, our family will be hosting a 5 km walk/run ("Rafe's Run") on Sunday Oct. 6 in our lovely city of Halifax.

Please join us in making a difference.

Love,

Jessica, David, Owen and Willow