Social media fundraiser leaves lasting legacy
Northern Cancer Fund was target of Michael Antcliffe's campaign to help fellow cancer patients
A Thunder Bay man's dying request is raising thousands of dollars for the Northern Cancer Fund.
Michael Antcliffe started a campaign in early 2011 on Facebook asking people to donate $10 to cancer care on his passing. He died this past weekend at the age of 37.
The campaign has, so far, raised $20,000 to improve the care and comfort of local cancer patients, said Glenn Craig, who heads the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation.
"It was really a tidal wave yesterday," he said. "Several hundreds of gifts were made yesterday. Hundreds more have already been made [Tuesday] morning."
Craig observed that Antcliffe’s idea introduced the regional foundation to the world of social media as his campaign went from Facebook to Twitter and beyond, and brought people together around the globe.
"It really shows … the power of social media … [and] how Michael has created that virtual community," he said.
Click on the audio link to hear more about Antcliffe's fundraising project during CBC Thunder Bay's Superior Morning show taped Nov. 2, 2011.