Consciously Cultivated Gourmet Heritage Garlics

About 

 

A legacy is what you leave behind in the world after you have taken your last breath.  It is a part of you that lives on for generations.  A young man has always put the well-being of others in front of himself.  He has participated and run numerous fundraising campaigns.  The legacy wish of this young man is to ensure others similar to him have the opportunity to connect with other young adults who are battling cancer.  This young man is Stephen Michell.

 

Stephen faced health challenges as a child.  He endured and pushed forward with a smile on his face and a positive attitude.  In university Stephen flourished.  Life was fantastic; school was great and his health was excellent.  Then he graduated and was ready for the beginning of an amazing career and future. But instead, he was also given his life sentence; brain cancer.  

 

Stephen fought with grace and dignity for 26 months.  He endured five brain surgeries and two rounds of chemo.  The first treatment was to be 70 weekly treatments.  After 32 treatments Stephen was forced to stop as his tumour was not shrinking and the side effects were beyond what one should ensure.  With his business hat on, Stephen negotiated with his Neuro-oncologist; monthly MRI’s and a treatment plan should anything change.  A few months later there was change, and Stephen commenced a second treatment of chemo.  However, after one round of treatment, Stephen’s tumour grew again.  He made the difficult decision to stop the treatments and live out the remainder of his time, on his own terms.  Six weeks later, Stephen passed away with dignity, strength and selflessness. 

 

Stephen was always a strong, caring, and giving individual.  He was very specific as to what his legacy would be and what he wanted his family to do on his behalf.  After attending a conference in the spring of 2014, Stephen became very involved with Young Adult Cancer Canada (YACC).  During a time of feeling quite alone and isolated, this organization made Stephen feel welcome and not alone in his cancer diagnosis and journey. Stephen’s legacy wish is to continue raising funds so that other young adults with cancer can attend an event and connect with others, like he did. 

 

The Michell family has partnered with Cloves for a Cause, with Young Adult Cancer Canada (YACC) being the beneficiary of funds raised.  The funds raised will go towards the Stephen Michell Fund with YACC, which sponsors conferences and retreats hosted by YACC.  When the Michell family first met with Sarah and learned about Cloves for A Cause, a strong connection was made.  The heartbeat of their mission, the healing properties of garlic, perpetual giving, and the fact that Stephen loved garlic just fit.

 

 

When you purchase the package of five gourmet bulbs of garlic from Stephen’s Garden, 50 % of the proceeds will be donated to YACC and the remaining 50% will be reinvested back into Stephen’s Garden. This includes the replanting of five garlic cloves so the fundraising will continue year after year. 

 

In Stephen’s memory, please help support other young adults who have been diagnosed with cancer. For a young adult, being able to connect with others

who have cancer and understand your situation, is what was important to Stephen.  Even though he no longer walks among us, he still puts others in front of himself.