This Oct. 23, as he has done for three years, Langley City resident Mike Gee will visit a local bakery and ask if there is a birthday cake that is waiting for pickup that day, because he would like to pay for it.

When Mike explains it鈥檚 his way of honouring the memory of his late son, Seamus, on what would have been his birthday, it can be an 鈥渆motional鈥� moment for the people in the shop, he said.

鈥淚鈥檇 be buying a cake for him, anyway,鈥� Mike explained.

鈥淚 feel good doing it.鈥�

He will leave a note for the person who ordered the cake explaining it鈥檚 for the , something he would like to see other people take up to remember loved ones who have passed.

鈥淚 hope it catches on,鈥� Mike remarked.

Since Seamus died, at the age of 16, on Oct. 27, 2019, Mike has become a tireless campaigner for mental health initiatives, including raising funds for Foundry Langley, which offers free and confidential access to mental health and substance use support for young people.

He founded the non-profit that helps local students access trades programs, as well as community and school sports programs.

For Mike, his activism is 鈥減art of dealing with the loss. I find it therapeutic as part of my healing.鈥�

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On Sunday, June 4, the second annual 3K Seamus鈥� Stroll will take place in Campbell Valley Regional Park, at 8th Avenue and 204th Street.

Registration will open at 10 a.m. with the walk scheduled to start at 11 a.m.

Advance registration online can be made on the Facebook 鈥溾�� event page.

More information can be found at the e.

There will be a by-donation barbecue, operated by Township of Langley firefighters.

Donations can be made at 鈥淪eamus鈥� Stroll for a Stronger Community鈥� or brought in person the day of the event. Donations will be accepted until June 11.

An online memorial described Seamus as 鈥渁 kind, gentle soul with a massive heart [who] was courageous and delightfully brilliant, a lover of all animals and nature, he was adventurous and had a very curious mind.鈥�

Mike wants Seamus to be remembered as a helpful, caring kid 鈥渨ho would help out classmates with projects, [and do] the same with his friends. If they needed a shoulder, he was there for them.鈥�

鈥淚 don鈥檛 want him to be forgotten,鈥� Mike said.

鈥淣obody should be.鈥�

#seamusgeelegacyproject #seamusstroll #foundrylangley #foundry

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